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

According to the woman, the twins took her into a bedroom, where Fisherman kneed her in the back and held her down on the bed by the arms while the twins took turns raping her, the Miami Herald reported. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 Dec. 2024

After a few minutes of setting up their pieces, each player took turns deciding their moves and rolling die to determine how effective each attack was. —Desirae Sin, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024

While the parties were initially hosted by matriarch Kris Jenner at her home, the family has taken turns hosting over the years. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Seven teams from around the world are taking turns steering this dune-buggy-like rover through the course. —Kira Wakeam, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above