sympathy
gb/sˈɪmpəθi/ us/sˈɪmpəθi/
B1
English
~ 9900
együttérzés, részvét, részvétnyilvánítás, támogatás, rokonszenv, empátia, beleérzés, együttmozgás, korreláció, összhang, illeszkedés
NOUN
B1
1
együttérzés
B1
Usage pattern:
feel/have/show [sympathy] for [someone]
I have a lot of sympathy for single parents trying to manage everything alone.
Nagyon együttérzek az egyedülálló szülőkkel, akiknek mindent egyedül kell megoldaniuk.
Many people felt sympathy for the students who lost their homes in the fire.
Sokan együttéreztek azokkal a diákokkal, akik elvesztették az otthonukat a tűzben.
She listened with real sympathy as he talked about losing his job.
Public sympathy quickly turned to anger when the truth came out.
He showed no sympathy for people who were late, no matter the reason.
Learner examples
I feel sympathy for her because she is very sick.
Együttérzek vele, mert nagyon beteg.
They showed sympathy for the family after the accident.
Együttérzést mutattak a család iránt a baleset után.
My teacher had sympathy for me when I was very stressed.
He has no sympathy for people who are rude.
We all felt sympathy for the players who lost the game.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'sympathy' with 'empathy'. 'Sympathy' is mainly feeling sorry for someone who is suffering, while 'empathy' is more about deeply understanding and sharing another person's feelings. Another mistake is using the wrong preposition: the common pattern is 'sympathy for someone', not 'sympathy with someone' in this emotional-pity sense.
Meaning
feeling sorry for someone
Collocations
feel sympathy for
|have sympathy for
|show sympathy
|a lot of sympathy
|little sympathy
|no sympathy for
Synonyms
compassion (Stronger idea of warm, active concern; often suggests wanting to help.)
|
pity (Can sound more distant or even slightly negative, as if looking down on someone.)
Antonyms
indifference (Lack of care or concern about another person's suffering.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
Definition
A feeling of care and sadness for someone who is having a bad or painful time.
A feeling of pity and concern for someone who is suffering, disappointed, or in difficulty.
NOUN
B2
2
részvét
B2
Usage pattern:
offer/send/express [sympathy] to [someone]
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of your father.
Fogadja legmélyebb részvétemet édesapja elvesztése miatt.
Friends and colleagues sent messages of sympathy after the accident.
A baleset után barátok és kollégák részvétnyilvánító üzeneteket küldtek.
She called to express her sympathy and offer any help we might need.
The company issued a statement of sympathy to the victims' families.
He wrote a short note of sympathy to his neighbor after hearing the news.
Learner examples
I sent a card to show my sympathy after her mother died.
Küldtem neki egy lapot, hogy kifejezzem a részvétemet, miután meghalt az édesanyja.
Our teacher gave her sympathy when her pet passed away.
A tanárunk kifejezte neki az együttérzését, amikor meghalt a háziállata.
Please accept our sympathy at this very sad time.
They visited the family to offer their sympathy.
Many people sent emails of sympathy to him.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'my condolences of sympathy'* or *'I send you a sympathy'*. Use either 'my sympathy' or 'my condolences', not both together. Also, 'sympathy' is usually uncountable here, but 'sympathies' is possible in phrases like 'my deepest sympathies'.
Meaning
expressed condolences or support
Collocations
offer sympathy
|express sympathy
|send my sympathy
|my deepest sympathy
|heartfelt sympathy
|letter of sympathy
Synonyms
condolences (More formal and most often used specifically for a death.)
Antonyms
coldness (Shows no warmth or caring when someone is grieving or in pain.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|communication
Definition
Things you say, write, or do to show you are sorry that someone has had a death or other very sad event.
Words, messages, or actions that show you feel sorry for someone’s loss or trouble, especially after a death.
NOUN
B2
3
támogatás
A2
rokonszenv
B2
Usage pattern:
sympathy for [a cause] / in sympathy with [a group or aim]
There is growing sympathy for the nurses' demand for higher pay.
Egyre nagyobb támogatást kap az ápolók béremelési követelése.
Most of the media expressed sympathy with the protesters.
A média nagy része rokonszenvét fejezte ki a tüntetők iránt.
Public sympathy shifted away from the union after the long strike.
She has little sympathy for political movements that use violence.
The party lost sympathy among young voters after the scandal.
Learner examples
Many students feel sympathy for the workers on strike.
Sok diák támogatja a sztrájkoló munkásokat.
The newspaper showed sympathy for the new law.
Az újság támogatóan írt az új törvényről.
He has no sympathy for that political group.
Public sympathy is with the victims of the war.
The group gained sympathy after the TV interview.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'sympathy' here when they mean simple 'like', for example *'I have sympathy for this movie'* is incorrect. Use 'sympathy' for support of people, groups, or causes, not for consumer preferences or random things.
Meaning
support or approval for a cause
Collocations
public sympathy
|sympathy for the workers
|sympathy for their aims
|grow in sympathy with
|in sympathy with the strike
|lose sympathy
Synonyms
support (More general; does not always include emotional agreement.)
|
solidarity (Often used for strong, active support, especially between groups facing difficulty.)
Antonyms
opposition (Active disagreement with or resistance to a group or cause.)
Themes
society
|politics
|emotions
|relationships
Definition
When you support or agree with a group, idea, or cause.
Support for or agreement with a group, cause, or set of beliefs, often in social or political contexts.
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
have/feel [sympathy] with [someone or their feelings]
She has a real sympathy with teenagers and understands their worries.
Valódi empátiával fordul a kamaszok felé, és érti az aggodalmaikat.
There was an immediate sympathy between the two writers.
A két író azonnal egymásra hangolódott.
His novels show deep sympathy with ordinary people's lives.
I feel a strong sympathy with what you're going through.
A lack of sympathy from managers can damage trust at work.
Learner examples
My doctor showed great sympathy with my fears.
Az orvosom nagy empátiával kezelte a félelmeimet.
I feel sympathy with people who move to a new country.
Át tudom érezni azoknak a helyzetét, akik új országba költöznek.
There was a natural sympathy between the two friends.
Her books show real sympathy with poor families.
He has no sympathy with their way of thinking.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not notice the difference between 'sympathy for' (pity for suffering) and 'sympathy with' (emotional understanding or shared feeling). In this sense, 'with' is more natural when you want to say you understand and share someone's feelings or views.
Meaning
ability to understand feelings
Collocations
feel a strong sympathy with
|natural sympathy between
|human sympathy
|show great sympathy
|sympathy with their situation
|lack of sympathy
Synonyms
empathy (More specifically means deeply putting yourself in another person's place and sharing their feelings.)
|
affinity (Emphasizes natural liking or connection rather than pure emotional understanding.)
Antonyms
alienation (A feeling of being very separate from and unable to relate to others.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
Definition
When you can understand how another person feels and feel close to them.
The ability to understand and share another person's feelings, often leading to a sense of closeness or connection.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
együttmozgás
C1
korreláció
C1
Usage pattern:
move/fall/rise [in sympathy with] [something]
Tech stocks fell in sympathy with the broader market.
A technológiai részvények a piac egészével együtt estek.
Oil prices rose in sympathy with growing tensions in the region.
Az olajárak a térségben növekvő feszültségekkel párhuzamosan emelkedtek.
The company's bonds moved in sympathy with its shares.
Regional currencies weakened in sympathy with the euro.
Her mood seemed to darken in sympathy with the gray weather outside.
Learner examples
House prices fell in sympathy with the weaker economy.
Az ingatlanárak a gyengülő gazdasággal párhuzamosan csökkentek.
The value of the currency rose in sympathy with higher oil prices.
A valuta értéke a magasabb olajárakkal párhuzamosan emelkedett.
Their sales dropped in sympathy with the whole industry.
The small shop closed in sympathy with the workers on strike.
Share prices moved in sympathy with news from the US.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'in sympathy with' always means emotional support. In business or news reports, 'fell in sympathy with' usually means 'fell because similar things fell' or 'fell at the same time and in a similar way'.
Meaning
parallel change between things
Collocations
move in sympathy with
|rise in sympathy with
|fall in sympathy with
|react in sympathy
|prices in sympathy with
|markets in sympathy
Synonyms
correlation (More technical and neutral; does not suggest any emotional or supportive link.)
Antonyms
independence (No linked or parallel movement between the two things.)
Themes
business
|science
|relations
|finance
Definition
When one thing changes in a similar way because another thing changes, often at the same time.
A relationship in which one thing reacts or changes in a similar way to another thing, especially in financial or scientific contexts.
NOUN
C1
6
összhang
B1
illeszkedés
B2
Usage pattern:
be [in sympathy with] [something]
The new building is in sympathy with the historic city center.
Az új épület összhangban van a történelmi városközponttal.
The music was chosen in sympathy with the calm mood of the exhibition.
A zenét a kiállítás nyugodt hangulatával összhangban választották ki.
Her gentle movements were in sympathy with the slow rhythm of the song.
The colors of the room are in sympathy with the natural light.
The design tries to work in sympathy with the local landscape.
Learner examples
The modern house is not in sympathy with the old street.
A modern ház nincs összhangban a régi utcával.
The blue walls are in sympathy with the soft light.
A kék falak összhangban vannak a lágy fénnyel.
His dance was in sympathy with the quiet music.
The park was planned in sympathy with the river.
The artist chose colors in sympathy with nature.
Common mistake:
Learners may understand only the emotional meaning of 'sympathy' and miss this design or harmony meaning. Note that here 'in sympathy with' means 'matching' or 'in harmony with', not 'feeling sorry for'.
Meaning
harmony or good match
Collocations
in sympathy with the surroundings
|in sympathy with the landscape
|in sympathy with the design
|move in sympathy with the music
|colour in sympathy with
|architecture in sympathy
Synonyms
harmony (Focuses strongly on a pleasing overall effect or balance.)
|
accord (More formal; stresses agreement or consistency between things.)
Antonyms
clash (Describes things that look or feel bad together because they do not match.)
Themes
art
|design
|relations
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When two things go well together or match each other in a good way.
A state of harmony or suitability between things, especially when one thing matches or fits well with another.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sympathy
IPA
GB/sˈɪmpəθi/
US/sˈɪmpəθi/
Syllables & stress
sym - pathy (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sym)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sympathy
- Plural: sympathies, sympathy
Word family
Forms
sympathies
noun
Core family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unsympathetic
adjective
unsympathetically
adverb
Advanced or less common
sympathizer
noun
Expressions
express sympathy
1/ɪkspɹˈɛs sˈɪmpəθi/
fixed phrase
say you feel sorry for someone
To say or show that you are sorry that someone has pain, trouble, or a loss.
Examples
- Friends came by to express sympathy after the accident.
- The president expressed sympathy to the families of the victims.
- I called her to express my sympathy and offer help.
feel sympathy for
1/fˈil sˈɪmpəθi fɚ/
fixed phrase
experience sympathy toward someone
To experience the feeling of being sorry for someone and caring about their problem.
Examples
- I feel sympathy for anyone who has to commute two hours every day.
- Many people felt sympathy for the victims of the flood.
- We all felt sympathy for him when we heard his story.
have sympathy for
1/hˈæv sˈɪmpəθi fɚ/
fixed phrase
feel pity and concern for
To feel sorry for someone and care about their problems or pain.
Examples
- I really have sympathy for people who work night shifts.
- She has no sympathy for students who do not do their homework.
- Most voters have sympathy for families struggling to pay rent.
in sympathy with
1/ˈɪn sˈɪmpəθi wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
agreeing with or changing like
To agree with something or someone, or to change in a similar way to something else.
Examples
- Many teachers went on strike in sympathy with the nurses.
- Share prices fell in sympathy with the wider market.
- The new building was designed in sympathy with the old town center.
my deepest sympathies
1/mˈaɪ dˈipɪst sˈɪmpəθiz/
fixed phrase
formal plural condolences phrase
A formal way to say you are very sorry about someone's loss, using the plural form 'sympathies'.
Examples
- My deepest sympathies go out to you and your children.
- We extend our deepest sympathies to all the families involved.
- She wrote, "My deepest sympathies" at the end of the card.
my deepest sympathy
1/mˈaɪ dˈipɪst sˈɪmpəθi/
fixed phrase
very strong condolence phrase
A polite and serious way to say you are very sorry about someone's loss, often when someone has died.
Examples
- Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss.
- On behalf of the team, I’d like to offer my deepest sympathy.
- We send our deepest sympathy to you and your family at this sad time.
offer sympathy
1/ˈɔfɚ sˈɪmpəθi/
fixed phrase
give condolences or support
To say kind words or do something kind to show you are sorry for someone's bad situation.
Examples
- Neighbors came to offer sympathy and support.
- She offered her sympathy to the families who had lost their homes.
- We would like to offer our sympathy to everyone affected.
out of sympathy with
1/ˈaʊt əv sˈɪmpəθi wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
not agreeing or in harmony with
To not agree with or support a person, group, or idea anymore.
Examples
- Many voters are now out of sympathy with the government’s policies.
- She felt increasingly out of sympathy with the direction of the project.
- He resigned because he was out of sympathy with the company’s values.
public sympathy
1/pˈʌblɪk sˈɪmpəθi/
fixed phrase
general public's sympathy
The feelings of most people in a country or area about a group, event, or cause, usually pity or support.
Examples
- Public sympathy was clearly with the victims of the disaster.
- The strike lost public sympathy after several weeks.
- The campaign aims to win public sympathy for climate refugees.
show sympathy
1/ʃˈoʊ sˈɪmpəθi/
fixed phrase
demonstrate that you are sympathetic
To act or speak in a way that lets someone see you are sorry about their problems and that you care.
Examples
- She showed real sympathy when I told her about my worries.
- Doctors are encouraged to show sympathy but also to stay professional.
- He tried to show sympathy, but his words sounded cold.
win sympathy
1/wˈɪn sˈɪmpəθi/
fixed phrase
gain people's sympathy
To make people start to feel sorry for you or support you.
Examples
- The emotional speech helped win sympathy for the refugees.
- He tried to win sympathy by talking about his difficult childhood.
- The government failed to win sympathy for the new tax plan.
with deepest sympathy
1/wˈɪθ dˈipɪst sˈɪmpəθi/
fixed phrase
condolence letter closing
A polite way to end a card or letter when you want to say you are very sorry about someone's loss.
Examples
- With deepest sympathy, Sarah and Mark.
- The card ended with the simple words, "With deepest sympathy."
- He signed the letter, "With deepest sympathy, John Parker."