goes to bed

USAGE SUMMARY

"goes to bed" is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the action of someone getting ready to sleep or going to sleep. Example: After a long day at work, Sarah goes to bed early to get some rest.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He goes to bed.

The New Yorker

Everyone goes to bed early.

The Guardian - Opinion

It goes to bed early.

The New York Times

She goes to bed earlier and earlier.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She goes to bed with him.

The New Yorker

She even goes to bed with her.

The Guardian - Books

"Who else goes to bed hungry?

The Guardian

He reads the Koran before he goes to bed.

The New Yorker

I watch it after Laken goes to bed.

The New York Times

When Sammy goes to bed, everyone but Scobie smokes marijuana.

The New Yorker

Let's imagine that Tammi goes home and goes to bed.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "goes to bed" to describe the action of someone retiring for sleep, especially when specifying a time or circumstance related to their bedtime routine. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "goes to bed" when referring to a past action. Use "went to bed" instead. For example, say "She went to bed early last night" not "She goes to bed early last night" if referring to a specific past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "goes to bed" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of retiring for sleep. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Examples in Ludwig show it used to describe routines, habits, and specific instances of someone going to sleep.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

23%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "goes to bed" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of retiring for sleep. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and used in various contexts, ranging from informal conversations to news articles. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in describing bedtime routines, habits, and specific instances of someone going to sleep. While alternatives like "retires for the night" or "turns in" offer different nuances, "goes to bed" remains a versatile and frequently used option. Remember to use the correct tense ("went to bed" for past actions) to avoid common errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

goes to sleep

Focuses on the action of falling asleep rather than the act of going to bed.

turns in

Informal and concise way to say someone is going to bed.

calls it a night

Indicates ending the day and going to bed.

retires for the night

Formal alternative emphasizing the end of the day's activities.

settles down for the night

Emphasizes preparing for a restful sleep.

prepares for sleep

Focuses on the actions taken before going to sleep.

hits the hay

Idiomatic and informal expression for going to bed.

is off to dreamland

Playful and figurative way of saying someone is going to bed.

is tucked in

Often used for children being put to bed.

seeks slumber

Formal and poetic way to describe going to sleep.

FAQs

How do I use "goes to bed" in a sentence?

You can use "goes to bed" to describe someone's bedtime routine. For example: "He usually "goes to bed" around 10 PM" or "She "goes to bed" after reading a book".

What's a more formal way to say "goes to bed"?

A more formal alternative to "goes to bed" is "retires for the night". This phrase is often used in literature or formal settings to describe someone going to sleep.

What can I say instead of "goes to bed" in an informal context?

In informal contexts, you can use phrases like "turns in" or "hits the hay" as alternatives to "goes to bed".

Which is correct, "goes to bed" or "go to bed"?

"Goes to bed" is used for third-person singular subjects (he, she, it). "Go to bed" is used for other subjects (I, you, we, they). For example: "She "goes to bed" early", but "I "go to bed" late".