put to sleep

To make someone fall asleep.

• This music puts me to sleep.
• The long talk put several people to sleep.
• Does rocking put your baby to sleep?

How to use it: put someone to sleep (Soft music puts the baby to sleep.)

Similar words: send to sleep, lull to sleep

Opposites: wake

Common phrases: put someone to sleep, put babies to sleep

To give someone medicine that makes them unconscious during an operation.

• They will put me to sleep for surgery.
• The doctor put her to sleep before the operation.
• Will you put him to sleep for this procedure?

How to use it: put someone to sleep for something (The doctor will put you to sleep for the operation.)

Similar words: anesthetize

Common phrases: put someone to sleep, put patients to sleep

To help someone, especially a child, get into bed and settle for the night.

• I put the children to sleep at eight.
• Dad put her to sleep and came downstairs.
• Who will put the twins to sleep tonight?

How to use it: put someone to sleep (We put the children to sleep after their bath.)

Similar words: put to bed

Common phrases: put children to sleep, put someone to sleep