What does empathetic exactly mean?

They all gave good answers but skipped the: is everyone empathic? Is it something only certain people have? The answer is yes but to different degrees. Some have so little they would think your over-reacting. Then there are some who have so much they would cry just hearing it, these people cry at sad parts in movies.

In certain situations people can be empathetic, for instance lets say someone’s pet died, and another persons pet died, they both know how it feels so in that case their empathetic.

Now if someone were to actually feel someone else’s pain, physically speaking like if someone got stabbed and they felt it that would be very strange and awkward and most likely a scientific phenomenon in my opinion.

I like hysterical’s answer. It means also, someone understanding how you feel or being sympathetic to your feelings and getting that idea across to you. They let you know that they are compassionate or caring about your needs or pain.

The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to the feelings, thoughts and experiences of another.