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

But then he’s mortified to see that immediately after, all the cult members take turns holding the baby, collectively becoming the newborn's parents. —Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025

Historically, the market operates in cycles, with different asset classes taking turns in the proverbial lead. —Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025

The pair, who look to be at home in the black-and-white clip, also take turns on some lines on a verse. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025

Each offensive lineman and the tight ends took turns missing blocks, which led to a major drop in success rate. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 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