Word
commiserate
Phoneticscom·mis·er·ate, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈmɪsɝˌeɪt/
UK/kəmˈɪsəɹˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to express sympathy or sadness for someone who has experienced something bad. You do this to show you understand their pain or disappointment.
v. to express or feel sympathy or pity for another's misfortune. Often implies a shared experience of failure or hardship.
Examples
“We gathered to commiserate after our team lost the final.”
“After the layoffs were announced, the remaining staff met at a local pub to commiserate over the loss of their colleagues.”
“While the winners celebrated their victory in the main hall, the defeated candidates retreated to a private room to commiserate with one another and discuss their future plans.”
Examples
simple
“We gathered to commiserate after our team lost the final.”
contextual
“After the layoffs were announced, the remaining staff met at a local pub to commiserate over the loss of their colleagues.”
complex
“While the winners celebrated their victory in the main hall, the defeated candidates retreated to a private room to commiserate with one another and discuss their future plans.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “commiserate” in context.
Verb
01. commiserate about
“The colleagues gathered to commiserate about the recent budget cuts.”
verb + prep
02. commiserate over
“We spent the evening commiserating over our failed business venture.”
verb + prep
03. commiserate with
“I went over to commiserate with him after he lost the final match.”
verb + prep
04. commiserate over a drink
“They met at the pub to commiserate over a drink after the layoffs were announced.”
05. commiserate with a friend
“It is natural to want to commiserate with a friend who has suffered a loss.”
06. stop to commiserate
“Several neighbors stopped to commiserate when they heard the news.”
Usage
Intransitive verb; typically takes the preposition 'with'.
Pitfall
I commiserated him on his loss
I commiserated with him on his loss
Commiserate is intransitive and requires 'with' to connect to the person receiving the sympathy.
Real-World Examples
“Marquinhos, 32, made headlines when, instead of celebrating with the rest of his teammates, he went straight to hug a distraught Gabriel, because he suffered the same painful experience at the 2022 World Cup and wanted to commiserate.” “Health workers commiserate over crying their way home after tough shifts, support each other on social media, and push colleagues to seek help.” “The influencers play the role of cheerleader and best friend, commiserating about the mess and offering strategies on how to tackle it.” “I’m a Washington sports fan, I’ll admit I’m not built for the stress of meaningful, and his co-workers would commiserate with him after a Nats loss.” Etymology
From Latin commiserātus, the perfect passive participle of commiseror ("to pity, to lament with").
From the above adjective, see at -ate for more.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/commiserate