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

Five major New York companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—take turns in programs featuring works by William Forsythe, George Balanchine, Hans van Manen, Brady Farrar, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. —The New Yorker, 28 June 2024

Hall and El Moussa taking turns lip-synching aggressively to the song’s lyrics. —Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 27 June 2024

Created by Mike O’Malley, this comedy follows Jim (Jon Cryer) and Julia (Abigail Spencer), a couple who amicably divorce and take turns staying with their kids at the family home. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 June 2024

At the May 7 meeting of the Board of Directors, two people spoke against it, while 22 took turns speaking for it. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above