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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Each of us taking turns at the ginormous cider casks, spigots blasting streams of white foam. Jennifer Hope Choi, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025 That evening, Ann and I took turns wearing the glasses during dinner at a local restaurant. David Owen, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025 Throughout the weekend, the two films took turns at the top of the box office. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2025 In addition to Rocky — who took turns behind held by his parents — Kourtney's daughter Penelope, 12, and son Reign, 10, also joined in the fall festivities, while big brother Mason, 15, was not in attendance. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take turns

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take turns was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Take turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20turns. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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