Empathy: Meaning, Examples and Quiz

Empathy (noun) is the ability to understand another person’s feelings or perspective, and sometimes to share in those feelings. It involves trying to understand an experience from that person’s point of view.

Example: Having changed schools herself, Asha showed empathy for the new student’s nervousness.

Pronunciation guide: EM-puh-thee. Stress the first syllable; the th sound is like the one in thin. This is a pronunciation guide, not IPA notation.

What does empathy mean?

When you show empathy, you try to understand how a situation feels to someone else. You do not have to have lived through exactly the same experience, and understanding someone’s feelings does not mean agreeing with every decision they make.

For example, a classmate says, “I practised all week, but I forgot my words on stage.” An empathetic response could be, “That sounds disappointing after so much practice.” It acknowledges their experience without claiming to know exactly what they feel.

Empathy, sympathy and compassion

These related words overlap, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence.

• Empathy focuses on understanding or sharing another person’s feelings or perspective.
• Sympathy often expresses concern or sorrow for someone experiencing difficulty.
• Compassion combines concern about suffering with a wish to help.

In one situation you might feel all three. Choose the word that best expresses the point you want to make.

Empathy in a sentence

• The teacher showed empathy for students who were nervous about speaking English.
• Listening to her colleague’s explanation helped Priya develop empathy.
• We can respond with empathy even when we disagree.
• The story encouraged readers to feel empathy for its lonely narrator.
• His reply showed a lack of empathy for the disappointed players.

Useful patterns and word forms

Empathy is normally uncountable. Say “She showed empathy,” not “She showed an empathy.” Useful phrases include show empathy, have empathy for someone, respond with empathy and a lack of empathy.

• Noun: empathy — Her message showed empathy.
• Adjective: empathetic — She gave an empathetic reply.
• Verb: empathise / empathize — I can empathise with someone starting a new job.

Empathise is a common British spelling; empathize is standard in American English and is also used in British English. Use empathise with someone, not empathy with someone when you need a verb.

Try it today: Describe a character in a book or film using the phrase “showed empathy for”. Include a detail explaining whose experience the character understood.

Dictionary references: Merriam-Webster: Empathy and Cambridge Dictionary: Empathy. Examples and quiz questions on this page are written for English Skill Studio.