Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pay it forward

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.93 in modern English

Syllables: pay it -for-ward
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

Synonym of pay forward.

Example Sentences

"The study authors, citing other examples of "pay it forward" kindness at fast food restaurants and their own experiments encouraging subjects to help others, write: "Why, in the absence of external sanctions and opportunities for reciprocation, do people help strangers? One possible explanation is that helping is driven by receiving or observing help. In other words, generosity towards strangers may be socially contagious.""

Inflected Forms

pays it forward (present, singular) paying it forward (participle, present) paid it forward (participle, past) paid it forward (past)

Synonyms

pay forward

Questions

What does pay it forward mean?: Synonym of pay forward.

How to pronounce pay it forward

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pay it forward”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “pay it forward” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.