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

Given the limited space, well-wishers took turns filing through the gallery. — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

With limited seating available, some took turns entering the courtroom. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

After Nicholas’ fiancée called for a doctor, two people who claimed to be physicians hopped in, taking turns administering CPR. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Cluff carried him through the arena for Grand Entry, dancing as intertribal drum groups took turns playing and hundreds of representatives of indigenous tribes danced. — Sarah Gordon, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 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