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

Instead, they take turns to silently perform a series of moves and poses that look, to the untrained eye, as if they are playing charades or, as they writhe on the ground, breakdancing.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Alonso's Leverkusen in possession usually had a back three, a narrow midfield two, and a front five encouraged to take turns and drop deep to support players on the ball.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 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

Where it didn’t mean I have to affix a label to my forehead so people can take turns trying to figure out what caused it or what’s wrong with me.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

Related Words

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