Empathy/ˈempəθi/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Sharing Empathy involves feeling what someone else feels, not just understanding it. She showed empathy by crying with her friend who lost his job. Pro Tip 2/3Beyond Sympathy Unlike sympathy, empathy is deeply putting yourself in someone else's shoes. His empathy made him start a charity for the homeless. Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Verbal Empathy can be expressed through actions, not just words. Her hug was an act of empathy towards her upset sister.