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in turn meaning and examples

2025-09-15

Meaning

  • In turn means one after another or as a result / consequently depending on context.
  1. Sequence/Order: Refers to people or things doing something one after another.
  2. Result/Consequence: Refers to one action causing another as a result.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Adverbial phrase.

  • Usually placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence.

  • Common sentence patterns:

    • "They spoke in turn."
    • "This will help him, which in turn helps us."

Common Phrases

  • "take turns" (closely related expression)
  • "speak in turn"
  • "act in turn"
  • "which in turn"

Collocations

  • speak in turn
  • respond in turn
  • which in turn leads to
  • pass in turn

Examples

  1. Each student will present their project in turn.
  2. The children took the swings in turn.
  3. The manager praised the team, which in turn boosted their motivation.
  4. One mistake can cause another, which in turn creates a bigger problem.
  5. The teacher asked questions, and the students answered in turn.
  6. Helping others often brings kindness back to you in turn.
  7. He gave her advice, and she in turn shared it with her friends.
  8. The planets move around the sun, and the moon moves around the Earth in turn.
  • Sequential use: one after another, successively, alternately.
  • Consequence use: as a result, consequently, therefore.

Antonym

  • Out of turn (not in proper order or sequence).
  • Independently (without relation to a result).