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

Across the room, a new family takes turns cooing at the tiny person who has just taken their first breath. — Mara Evans, STAT, 27 July 2026

This year, to have, arguably, the two best riders in the world hanging off the front, battling against 30 of the best cyclists, each taking turns, was phenomenal. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Lack of relief While Sunday was Bachar’s turn to falter, several relievers have already taken turns letting games slip away. — Tyler M. Carmona july 26, Miami Herald, 26 July 2026

Others drape seal intestines over their fins or take turns tossing sea lion pelts into the air, Shields said. — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 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