sympathize

Sympathize is a verb that means to share or understand the feelings of another person, or to express pity, consolation, or support for someone experiencing distress. It can indicate emotional resonance with another’s experience, or simply agreement with or solidarity toward a person or position. The spelling in American English is sympathize, while British English uses sympathise.

Etymology: Sympathize derives from the noun sympathy, which comes from Greek sympathía, from syn- 'together' and pathos 'feeling.' The verb form developed in English in the early modern period and shares cognates with related words such as sympathetic and sympathy.

Usage and nuances: Sympathizing can be used to offer comfort or condolences, as in "I sympathize with your loss." It can also express agreement with a concern or stance, as in "I sympathize with your concerns about the policy." Unlike empathy, which often implies imagining oneself in another's situation, sympathy commonly denotes acknowledgment and outward support rather than full experiential sharing of emotions.

Related terms and distinctions: Sympathy refers to feelings of pity or shared concern, and can be a noun or verb in phrases like "to express sympathy." Related concepts include empathetic and empathy, which emphasize vicariously experiencing another’s feelings, and compassion or condolence, which focus on care and supportive action. Common collocations include "sympathize with," "express sympathy," and "show sympathy."