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

For hours Tuesday, supporters and opponents took turns defending and railing against the proposal. —Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2025

Once a week, the brothers took turns calling the Yuba City police. —Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025

Tit-for-tat thinking can lead employees to view sick leave as taking turns. —Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Cameron Payne and other teammates took turns bringing the ball up the court, freeing Brunson to exert less energy to get the Knicks into half-court sets. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above