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

However, for the most part, the television merely blended into the background because Swoffer was the main attraction for the people that took turns spending quality time with her at Swoffer’s dining table. —Scott Talley, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025

The show employs their own glam professionals who all take turns perfecting each person's hair and makeup. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

The two QBs now take turns starting every other week. —Grace Raynor, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

The Drew Barrymore Show cohosts both took turns getting a good whiff of the Fever Pitch actress' bare foot during a conversation about how often people should wash their feet on Tuesday's episode of her talk show. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 7 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