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

"My parents took turns every hour to see whether my hands were tucked in under the cover so my fingers wouldn't freeze off."

From BBC

Top staff take turns sitting with him on long trips, rotating so that others can sleep while one person remains by his side, according to White House officials.

From The Wall Street Journal

Next year, one of the two brigades will go out to the Philippines to stress-test its takeaways—part of a rotation that allows them to take turns training in forward locations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many pilgrims take turns running hundreds of miles back to their pueblos, carrying a torch lit at the foot of Tepayac.

From Los Angeles Times

I invited friends over, and we all took turns learning together.

From Salon

Related Words

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