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

Rafters took turns rowing, sitting forward or backward at the oars, depending on preference. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 3 June 2024

A couple of sailors took turns riding a motor bike back and forth across the bridge in the bright sunshine. —Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic took turns penetrating the defense, either to score themselves or drop passes off to teammates for easy finishes. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 May 2024

Five killer whales, each more than half the length of the boat, their glossy skin shining in the sunlight, were taking turns swimming into the back of the sailboat, ramming the rudder with their heads. —Tomas Weber, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above