Usage Note
Empirer is an intransitive verb: la situation empire ('the situation is worsening'). It can also be used transitively meaning 'to make worse,' though the intransitive use is far more common in modern French. The adjective pire (worse) shares the same root.
Examples
"Son état de santé a empiré."
Natural Translation
His health condition worsened.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
7 min read