empathy
noun
What empathy means
The ability to understand and share another person’s feelings.
A good nurse shows empathy for patients.
She listened with empathy and didn’t judge.
Test yourself
Five questions about empathy
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Question 1 of 5Meaning
What does empathy mean?
Empathy means you can imagine how someone else feels, almost as if the same thing were happening to you.
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Question 2 of 5Situation
Your friend has just failed her driving test. You failed yours twice, so you know exactly how she feels. You are showing…
You understand your friend’s feelings because you had the same experience yourself, and that ability to share someone’s feelings is empathy.
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Question 3 of 5Gap
Doctors need medical knowledge, but they also need ___ when they give patients bad news.
A doctor giving bad news must understand how the patient feels and respond gently, and that skill of sharing someone’s feelings is empathy.
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Question 4 of 5Word partner
Which verb goes with empathy? “She always ___ empathy for her patients.”
We show empathy, which means we let people see that we understand their feelings. Make, do and take are not used with empathy.
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Question 5 of 5Correct use
Which sentence uses empathy correctly?
We show empathy for or towards someone. Make is the wrong verb, against means opposition, and after is you need the adjective empathetic, not the noun.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer, Enter goes on.
Empathy in a sentence
5 more examples of empathy in everyday situations.
- At work
Good managers use empathy when someone on the team is going through a hard time.
- With friends
She didn’t give advice; she just showed empathy and let me talk.
- Health care
Patients say the new doctor listens with real empathy.
- The news
The mayor was criticized for a lack of empathy toward the flood victims.
- Parenting
Reading stories together can help children develop empathy for others.
How to use empathy
Empathy is feeling with someone: putting yourself in their place. Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, with a bit more distance. “I feel your pain” is empathy.
The adjective is empathetic and the verb is empathise (UK) or empathize (US).
Forms
- no pluraluncountable noun
- empathize / empathiseverb (US / UK spelling)
- empatheticadjective
- empathicadjective, less common
Patterns
- show / feel empathy for someone
- have empathy with someone
- a lack of empathy
- empathize with someone (verb)
Common mistakes with empathy
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NotShe is very empathy with her patients.
SayShe shows a lot of empathy for her patients. / She is very empathetic with her patients.
Empathy is a noun, so you show or feel empathy; the adjective is empathetic.
Empathy or sympathy?
- empathy or sympathy
- Sympathy means feeling sorry for someone; empathy means understanding their feelings as if they were your own. You send sympathy when someone dies, but you need empathy to really understand how they feel.
Empathy is a C1 word. Is that your level? Take the level test or count the words you know.
Empathy word family and collocations
The words that go with empathy, so you can use it in a whole phrase.
Common collocations
- show empathy
- a lack of empathy
- empathy for
- have empathy
- with empathy
Word family
- empathy (noun)
- empathise (verb)
- empathetic (adjective)
Similar words
- understanding
Questions about empathy
Is empathy countable?
Empathy is usually an uncountable noun, so you say “she has a lot of empathy”, not “an empathy” or “empathies”.
What is the adjective of empathy?
The most common adjective is empathetic: “an empathetic listener.” Empathic means the same and is used more in psychology and academic writing.
What preposition goes with empathy?
Use empathy for or empathy with someone. Both are correct: “She has empathy for people who are struggling.”
The word before
Do you still remember appliance?
One question about the word from 17 October. Remembering a word a day later helps it stay.
One question
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What does appliance mean?
An appliance is an electric machine that does a job in the house, like washing clothes, keeping food cold or boiling water.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer.
More feelings words
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B1
grateful
Feeling or showing thanks because someone has helped you or given you something. -
C1
moody
Having moods that change quickly, often becoming unhappy or angry without a clear reason. -
B2
outgoing
Friendly, open and enjoying meeting people. -
C1
tolerate
To accept something that you do not like without complaining or taking action. -
B2
guilty
Feeling bad because you think you have done something wrong. -
C1
sentimental
Connected with feelings of love or memories, often about the past.