ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sympathetic

adj.
US //ˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk// UK //sˌɪmpəθˈɛtɪk// sym·pa·thet·ic
  1. 1 kind and caring (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    showing that you understand and care about someone else's suffering or problems.

    feeling, showing, or expressing empathy and sorrow for another's misfortune.

    Example

    My boss was very sympathetic when I explained that my car had broken down.

    Example

    The nurse offered a sympathetic ear to the patient, listening patiently as he described his anxieties about the upcoming surgery.
    Pitfall
    He is very sympathetic; he always has a good time.
    He is very likeable; he always has a good time.

    In many languages, 'sympathetic' means 'nice' or 'likeable'. In English, it specifically means you feel sorry for someone's problems.

  2. 2 supporting an idea (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    agreeing with or supporting a particular aim, idea, or person.

    showing approval of or favour towards an idea, cause, or individual.

    Example

    The local council is sympathetic to our plan to build a new park.

    Example

    Although the senator was sympathetic to the environmental cause, she ultimately voted against the bill due to its high cost.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 likeable (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    describing a character in a book or film that you like and want to succeed.

    evoking pity or liking in an audience; used especially of fictional characters.

    Example

    The villain was actually a sympathetic character with a very sad past.

    Example

    The author struggled to make the protagonist sympathetic, as his early actions in the novel were largely driven by greed.
  2. 4 biological system (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    relating to the part of the nervous system that helps the body react to stress or danger.

    relating to the part of the autonomic nervous system that typically accelerates heart rate and prepares the body for 'fight or flight'.

    Example

    The sympathetic nervous system makes your heart beat faster when you are scared.

    Example

    The drug works by inhibiting the sympathetic response, thereby lowering the patient's blood pressure during periods of acute stress.

    Usage

    Usually precedes the noun 'nervous system'.
    • parasympathetic
  3. 5 vibrating together (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    describing a sound or vibration caused by another sound nearby.

    relating to or produced by vibrations in one body caused by similar vibrations in another.

    Example

    When she hit the low note on the piano, I heard a sympathetic vibration from the guitar.

    Example

    The sitar features several sympathetic strings that are never plucked but vibrate in response to the primary melody strings.
Origin

Mid 17th century in the sense “relating to an affinity or paranormal influence”, from Latin sympathēticus. By surface analysis, sympathy + -etic (“pertaining to”); compare pathetic. Displaced native Old English efnþrōwiende.

© 2026 English Reference