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

She and her husband usually take turns pushing their 18-month-old daughter in a tricycle along the pathway and get their steps in.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2026

The room was so small, they had to take turns if they wanted to lie down, and placed a piece of cardboard over a sewer hole as a makeshift mattress.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

Then I let them take turns shooting marbles at my lunar-surface cake pan.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

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