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

Eight episodes of season 51 have already aired, as Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, Sabrina Carpenter, Miles Teller, Nikki Glaser, Glen Powell, Melissa McCarthy and Josh O’Connor all took turns in the leading role. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Dec. 2025

And that is investing in togetherness and helping kids learn skills like being patient and taking turns, strengthening memory capacities, planning ahead, not giving up, and that being a team player will pay off later. —Angela J. Narayan, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025

Everyone had to take turns taking care of her. —Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025

Speaking at Troconis' sentencing in June 2024, Petros, Theodore, Constantine, Christiane and Cleopatra Noelle took turns giving victim impact statements. —Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 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