by turns

phrase

1
: one after another in regular succession
2
: variously, alternately
a book that is by turns pedantic, delightful, and infuriating

Examples of by turns in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bettany is by turns hilariously perplexed, in the universal manner of parents engaging with teens everywhere, and achingly tender, in the more unusual way of a robot letting himself be overwhelmed by feeling for the first time. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 What begins as a fairly straightforward kidnapping thriller is ratcheted by turns into something more complicated, if not exactly complex, by a neat series of twists. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 California‘s seven Supreme Court justices appeared by turns perplexed by and incredulous of those theories during oral arguments last month. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 Bodies are by turns ethereal and disjointed, glazed and bloodied. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for by turns

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of by turns was in 1538

Rhymes for by turns

See All Rhymes for by turns

Browse Nearby Words

by-trail
by turns
by virtue of
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“By turns.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20turns. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All