take turns

idiomatic phrase

variants also British take it in turns

: to do something one after another in regular succession in order to share the responsibility or opportunity of doing it : alternate

We take turns washing the dishes.

Almost immediately, Rick and Diane begin videotaping their classroom lessons, letting their students take turns with the cameras.

—Ann Bradley

Several youths were around the phone, taking it in turns to gossip and joke with the operator.

—Christopher Isherwood

Examples of take turns in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To try to quiet the baby, the mother and another woman took turns bouncing her on their knees. —Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025

In the second episode of Billboard and The Players’ Tribune’s video series Switching Stages, Normani and Two-Time Olympian Jordan Chiles take turns stepping into each other’s shoes for the day. —Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025

Comedy Central said Monday that the show’s correspondents will continue to take turns hosting Tuesdays through Thursdays while Stewart hosts on Mondays. —Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025

Following McRae’s performance, several honorees took turns raising their glasses and toasting to the values that inspire them. —Antonio Ferme, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take turns

• holofernes
• overturns
• subalterns
• adjourns
• concerns
• discerns
• downturns
• internes
• nocturnes
• returns
• sideburns
• churns