take turns

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

Parkgoers who witnessed the shooting told CBS News Bay Area that the man and woman involved in the shooting were wearing masks and took turns firing the gun at McKinsey. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

At the foot of the Washington Monument, Americans and Brits took turns envisioning how the United States will look in 250 years. — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

The news organizations take turns filming the president's activities -- rotating in alphabetical order by network name -- and distributing that footage to the other members. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026

Inside a Brazilian stadium Sunday, the same question lingered as two NFL kickers took turns lining up for potential game-winning field goals. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

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