takes turns
Acts in sequence
Takes turns describes a cooperative arrangement where participants alternate doing something rather than acting simultaneously or competing for access.
Children take turns on the swing; drivers take turns at a four-way stop.
The phrase implies fairness and order: We took turns watching the baby so everyone could sleep.
To take turns doing something unpleasant is to share the burden.
- rotatesTurns on axis
- alternatesBackup people or rotates
- switchesCircuit opening devices
- one at a timeIn single succession
- sharingDividing among others
queue · fairness · fair play · sequence · round robin · reciprocity · back and forth · rounds · moves · board game · musical chairs · patience · relay · pass the baton · cycle · baton · wait · pass
takes turnsall at once
Occurring without gradual buildup
simultaneously · at the same time · concurrently · in unison · all together
takes turnsfree-for-all
Unregulated group conflict
scrambles · grabs · every man for himself · barges in · butts in
takes turnsmonopolizes
Claims exclusive control over
hogs · dominates · keeps to oneself · commandeers · takes over
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, turn, turns, turned