pay forward

English

Etymology

Modelled on pay back (“to repay”).

Verb

pay forward (third-person singular simple present pays forward, present participle paying forward, simple past and past participle paid forward)

  1. (transitive) Having been the recipient of help or a good deed, to propagate goodwill by helping another person in turn.
    Synonym: pay it forward

Usage notes

Hurtful actions also can be paid forward, but the term used in that case is hurt people hurt people.

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