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

While other countries rotate and take turns participating in the council’s work, only these permanent council members can veto resolutions – leading to frequent stalemates. —Abiodun Williams, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025

Triples sees the three players on a team rotate who hits shots as well as taking turns to tee off. —Ben Church, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025

Biden and others took turns praising Carter’s record — which many historians have appraised more favorably since losing his bid for a second term in 1980 — and extolling his character. —Bill Barrow and Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025

The paintings, all watercolors, take turns at serenity and dread. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above