Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
pay-it-forward
phrase
/peɪ ɪt ˈfɔːrwərd/
Definition
The practice of responding to a person’s kindness by being kind to someone else instead of repaying the original benefactor.
Examples
- After receiving help from a stranger, she decided to pay it forward by volunteering at a local shelter.
- He believed in the pay-it-forward philosophy and always looked for ways to help others without expecting anything in return.
- The idea of pay-it-forward became popular in movies, inspiring many to perform random acts of kindness.
Meaning
It encourages spreading kindness and generosity to others instead of directly repaying a favor.
Synonyms
- Acts of kindness
- Random kindness
- Reciprocal altruism
