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

Following McRae’s performance, several honorees took turns raising their glasses and toasting to the values that inspire them. —Antonio Ferme, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025

Gunnar Hansen and Dan Yeager took turns playing him in 2013's Texas Chainsaw 3D before Mark Burnham took over in the modernized reboot in 2022. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

VIPs like Corey Fogelmanis and Meadow Walker took turns walking down the set’s pristine avenues and posing for photos next to the city’s clocktower, Everlane HQ office building, and Everlane Market (100 percent organic). —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025

The two are taking turns from managing endless babies. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 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