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 four players each wore blue, team-issued collared shirts with Gaudreau’s No. 13 stitched in and took turns dedicating words to Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. —David Close, CNN, 4 Sep. 2024

The center recommends the following activities to help with your child's early literacy development: Read together, taking turns with your child reading parts of a book. —Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 15 Aug. 2024

This is very nice, especially if 2 or more family members are taking turns on the same e-trike. —New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2024

For the grand reveal, the couple began by taking turns introducing themselves to their baby. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above