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

Throughout the video, two older players take turns grabbing the underclassman’s head and forcing each of their groins into his face as at least two more players cheer. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025

The guest list was made up of 13 billionaires plus a roster of top VCs and executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Tim Cook, and Bill Gates, who each took turns praising the president. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025

The teams will take turns hosting from year to year. —Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025

The dinner guests took turns praising Trump during the event. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 4 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