If you describe a situation as a virtuous circle, you mean that once one good thing starts happening, other good things happen, which cause the first thing to continue happening. Exercise creates its own virtuous circle. Once you start a programme and do it regularly, you'll feel so good you'll want to continue. a virtuous circle of investment and growth. vicious circle. A condition in which a favorable circumstance or result gives rise to another that subsequently supports the first. Also called virtuous cycle