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

And during dinner, take turns sharing the stories behind your dishes. 8. —Maggie Griswold, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025

Elsewhere during the segment, the anchors took turns dragging President Donald Trump’s administration, having fun with the news of the Signal group chat that leaked sensitive war plans in Yemen to a journalist at The Atlantic. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025

Assign one guest to prep the vegetables while two friends take turns flipping patties. —Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2025

Each parent takes turns incubating the eggs over a monthlong period, according to the Department of Beaches and Harbors. —Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 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