take turns

Idioms  

1. Alternate, as in Since there is only one horse, Beth and Amanda are taking turns riding. This phrase uses turn in the sense of “one of a series of actions done in succession.” [Late 1300s] Also see in turn.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take turns

Speakers take turns addressing crowds while also belting out protest songs and poems.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

And in life, they let each other take turns at the wheel, planning events and dates with a notable regard for the other person.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

The military has even introduced a new type of guard duty, where soldiers assigned as sky watchers take turns spotting incoming drones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026

Parents take turns incubating the egg, which is highly sensitive to temperature.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

Ma and Pa are concerned, too, and close enough to do something: they take turns going to The Hague to nurse him.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Related Words

• alter
• differ
• diverge
• diversify
• divide
• fluctuate
• modify
• range