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

Reggie started in 2019, taking turns with Noah for pregame festivities. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

As midnight approaches, both Keeley and Rebecca’s romantic issues take turns, and not in the same direction. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026

Over the coming days and weeks, Maxey, Embiid and Brown all took turns recruiting James, according to league sources. — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman took turns Thursday evening selling their environmental records — and painting starkly different pictures of the city’s performance under Bass’ leadership. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 4 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