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

The show was focused on The Midnight Society, a group of tweens and teens who would gather around a campfire taking turns telling their scariest stories. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024

As the furry animals scurry in and out of sight and up a small tree, Kailyn and her partner take turns giving fun facts about the tiny duo. —Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2024

Ariana Grande’s Celine Dion Romanticizes UFC Fighting With Theme Song Fineman and Grande take turns impersonating Coolidge’s unique vocal modulation. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2024

At the end of that song, the brothers take turns singing the hook. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above