Empathy

/ˈɛmpəθi/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Her empathy for the victims of the disaster motivated her to volunteer at the shelter.

The capacity to place oneself in another's position.

Empathy is essential for building strong relationships and resolving conflicts.

A psychological and emotional understanding of another person's experiences.

They showed great empathy towards each other during their discussions about their personal struggles.

The act of relating to and resonating with the feelings of others.

His empathy allowed him to connect deeply with his clients, understanding their unique challenges.

Coined in the early 20th century from Greek 'empatheia' meaning 'passion, state of emotion'

walk a mile in someone's shoes

To understand someone else's experiences and feelings.

put oneself in someone else's shoes

To imagine what it would be like to be in someone else's situation.

sympathy

Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone's misfortune.

compassion

Sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

Having a heart

She really has a heart, showing empathy for everyone around her.

Feeling someone's vibe

I’m feeling your vibe, got that empathy for what you're going through.