 Compassion. It's a word that's used a lot, but what is the true meaning of compassion? Here's Billy Graham. Compassion is not just a word in which you feel sorry for people. It means that you have a desire to help them, to alleviate the suffering. It's an active word. And the literal meaning of compassion is suffering with. Are you suffering today? There's someone who knows and understands exactly what you're going through.