sympathize
gb/sˈɪmpəθˌaɪz/ us/sˈɪmpəθˌaɪz/
B2
English
együttérez, megért, egyetért
VERB
B2
1
együttérez
B2
Usage pattern:
sympathize with [someone] (about/over [something])
I sympathize with you—losing a job is incredibly stressful.
Együttérzek veled – az állás elvesztése hihetetlenül stresszes.
Many people sympathized with the family after the accident.
Sokan együttéreztek a családdal a baleset után.
I do sympathize, but I’m not sure what I can do to help.
Learner examples
I sympathize with you.
Együttérzek veled.
She sympathized with him after his surgery.
A műtétje után együttérzett vele.
Common mistake:
Use sympathize with (not *sympathize to*). Also, sympathize is about compassion; empathize is about sharing/understanding feelings from the inside.
Meaning
feel sorry for someone
Collocations
sympathize with someone
|sympathize with the victims
|sympathize with someone’s loss
|sympathize deeply
|sympathize sincerely
|really sympathize
|find it hard to sympathize
|can’t help but sympathize
|sympathize with someone’s situation
|sympathize with their grief
Synonyms
feel for (More informal and often warmer.)
|
commiserate (Often implies sharing the complaint or sorrow together.)
|
pity (Can sound condescending; focuses on feeling sorry rather than understanding.)
Antonyms
be indifferent (Shows no caring or concern.)
|
disregard (Actively ignores someone’s trouble.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|health
|daily_life
Definition
To feel sorry for someone because something bad happened to them.
To feel compassion or sorrow for someone because of their problems, pain, or bad experience.
VERB
C1
2
Usage pattern:
sympathize with [someone/something]
I sympathize with his frustration, even if I don’t agree with his approach.
Megértem a frusztrációját, még ha nem is értek egyet a hozzáállásával.
A lot of people sympathize with the workers’ demands for safer conditions.
Sokan egyetértenek a munkások biztonságosabb körülményekre vonatkozó követeléseivel.
It’s difficult to sympathize with someone who refuses to apologize.
Learner examples
I sympathize with your point.
Megértem az álláspontodat.
Some voters sympathize with the plan.
Néhány választó egyetért a tervvel.
Common mistake:
Learners may use sympathize when they mean simply agree; sympathize often includes a sense of understanding feelings or a difficult position, not just sharing an opinion.
Meaning
understand and support a view
Collocations
sympathize with the idea
|sympathize with their position
|sympathize with the protesters
|sympathize with the cause
|sympathize with the argument
|sympathize with their concerns
|sympathize strongly
|sympathize wholeheartedly
|sympathize to some extent
|sympathize with her point of view
Synonyms
be sympathetic to (Closest in tone; explicitly emphasizes understanding.)
|
support (More active; may imply taking action, not just understanding.)
|
agree (Focuses on sharing an opinion; less about feelings.)
Antonyms
oppose (Actively disagrees or resists.)
|
disapprove (Judges the person or idea negatively.)
Themes
emotions
|opinions
|society
|politics
Definition
To understand someone’s reasons and support them.
To understand someone’s feelings, reasons, or position and be supportive or partly in agreement with them.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sympathize
IPA
GB/sˈɪmpəθˌaɪz/
US/sˈɪmpəθˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
sym - path - ize (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sym)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: sympathize
- 3rd Person Singular: sympathizes
- Present Participle: sympathizing
- Past: sympathized
Expressions
i sympathize.
1/ˈaɪ sˈɪmpəθˌaɪz ‖/
fixed phrase
polite acknowledgement of hardship
A polite way to say you feel sorry for someone.
Examples
- I sympathize, but the policy still applies to everyone.
- I sympathize—this must be really hard for you right now.
- I sympathize, and I’ll see what I can do.
Learner examples
- I sympathize. I hope it gets better.