prep_phrase · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɪn ˈtɜːn/
General-American:/ɪn ˈtɜɹn/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
prep_phrase
Meaning 1
One after the other; one at a time; in succession; successively.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The teacher answered the students each in turn.
Each member of the group, in turn, rose to share a personal story, until nearly everyone in the room had spoken.
Eventually, each of the countries in turn would be brought to submission by the invading force.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: in order, step by step
Antonyms: none provided
2
prep_phrase
Meaning 2
In due order; in proper sequence; in a determined or measured sequence, as a waiting line or queue.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
You are next in turn to bat.
The boy was next in turn to sit on Santa's lap.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
prep_phrase
Meaning 3
In response; in return.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The musical ambassadors finished their performance, and the local musicians in turn played for them a traditional ballad.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
prep_phrase
Meaning 4
Having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned; accordingly or similarly, with respect to sequence, precedence, or hierarchy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The vassals were subject to their lords, who in turn were subject to barons or kings.
My car was hit by a truck, which in turn was hit by the van.
Mr. X leaked the secret to Mr. Y who in turn leaked it to Mr. Z.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adverb
Meaning 5
in proper order or sequence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
talked to each child in turn
the stable became in turn a chapel and then a movie theater
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: successively
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
87 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
輪流 /轮流
(lúnliú)
— one after the other; successively
Chinese Mandarin:
依次
(yīcì)
— one after the other; successively
Chinese Mandarin:
按次序地
(àn cìxù de)
— one after the other; successively
Dutch:
om de beurt
— one after the other; successively
Dutch:
in een beurtrol
— one after the other; successively
Esperanto:
laŭvice
— one after the other; successively
Finnish:
vuorotellen
— one after the other; successively
French:
tour à tour
— one after the other; successively
French:
à tour de rôle
— one after the other; successively
German:
der Reihe nach
— one after the other; successively
German:
nacheinander
— one after the other; successively
Greek:
διαδοχικά
(diadochiká)
— one after the other; successively
Hebrew:
זֶה אַחַר זֶה
(ze akhár ze)
— one after the other; successively
Hungarian:
sorban
— one after the other; successively
Hungarian:
sorjában
— one after the other; successively
Hungarian:
sorra
— one after the other; successively
Hungarian:
egymás után
— one after the other; successively
Italian:
a turno
— one after the other; successively
Italian:
uno dopo l'altro
— one after the other; successively
Italian:
una dopo l'altra
— one after the other; successively
Japanese:
次々に
(tsugitsugi ni)
— one after the other; successively
Japanese:
順々に
(junjun ni)
— one after the other; successively
Latin:
vicem
— one after the other; successively
Latin:
a parte
— one after the other; successively
Norwegian:
en etter en
— one after the other; successively
Polish:
z kolei
— one after the other; successively
Portuguese:
por vez
— one after the other; successively
Russian:
после́довательно
(poslédovatelʹno)
— one after the other; successively
Russian:
по о́череди
(po óčeredi)
— one after the other; successively
Scottish Gaelic:
mu seach
— one after the other; successively
Swedish:
i tur och ordning
— one after the other; successively
Swedish:
i turordning
— one after the other; successively
Ukrainian:
послідо́вно
(poslidóvno)
— one after the other; successively
Ukrainian:
по че́рзі
(po čérzi)
— one after the other; successively
Esperanto:
laŭvice
— in due order, as a queue
Finnish:
vuorotellen
— in due order, as a queue
Finnish:
vuorossa
— in due order, as a queue
Hungarian:
következik
— in due order, as a queue
Hungarian:
jön
— in due order, as a queue
Italian:
in coda
— in due order, as a queue
Norwegian:
etter tur
— in due order, as a queue
Norwegian:
i tur og orden
— in due order, as a queue
Norwegian:
i rekkefølge
— in due order, as a queue
Polish:
w kolejności
— in due order, as a queue
Russian:
в о́череди
(v óčeredi)
— in due order, as a queue
Scottish Gaelic:
mu seach
— in due order, as a queue
Swedish:
på tur
— in due order, as a queue
Chinese Mandarin:
作為交換 /作为交换
(zuòwéi jiāohuàn)
— in response, in return
Finnish:
vuorostaan
— in response, in return
French:
en retour
— in response, in return
German:
wiederum
— in response, in return
Hungarian:
cserébe
— in response, in return
Hungarian:
viszonzásul
— in response, in return
Hungarian:
válaszul
— in response, in return
Hungarian:
viszonzásképp
— in response, in return
Italian:
in risposta
— in response, in return
Latin:
vicissim
— in response, in return
Polish:
z kolei
— in response, in return
Portuguese:
por vez
— in response, in return
Russian:
в свою́ о́чередь
(v svojú óčeredʹ)
— in response, in return
Russian:
в отве́т
(v otvét)
— in response, in return
Serbo-Croatian:
за̏узвра̄т
— in response, in return
Serbo-Croatian:
zȁuzvrāt
— in response, in return
Swedish:
i gengäld
— in response, in return
Ukrainian:
в свою́ че́ргу
(v svojú čérhu)
— in response, in return
Arabic:
بدوره
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Esperanto:
siavice
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Finnish:
vuorostaan
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Finnish:
puolestaan
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
French:
à son tour
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
French:
à leur tour
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
German:
wiederum
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Hungarian:
pedig
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Hungarian:
másfelől
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Hungarian:
ugyanakkor
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Hungarian:
viszont
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Italian:
a propria volta
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Polish:
z kolei
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Portuguese:
por vez
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Portuguese:
por sua vez
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Russian:
в свою́ о́чередь
(v svojú óčeredʹ)
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Russian:
то́же
(tóže)
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Russian:
та́кже
(tákže)
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Spanish:
a su vez
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Spanish:
por vez
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Spanish:
a mi / tu / vuestra vez
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
Swedish:
i sin tur
— having a relationship sequentially comparable to one just mentioned
