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

After the capsule was lowered into its hole, many members of the crowd took turns using a shovel to cover it. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025

Reckoning Part One driving through Rome One of the most memorable scenes in Mission Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One takes place with franchise newcomer Hayley Atwell —who portrays master thief Grace — and Cruise taking turns driving while handcuffed to each other. —Skyler Trepel, People.com, 25 May 2025

At the group home, the teens take turns preparing meals, and when one of them is overwhelmed or incapable, someone else invariably steps in to help. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 May 2025

Gene Morris and his son, Ken, took turns at the controls of the vintage, single-engine plane for its final flight from Texas to Kansas City’s downtown airport. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 21 May 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