left for bed

USAGE SUMMARY

"left for bed" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone leaving a place in order to go to bed. For example, "It was getting late, so I left for bed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Cathy said O.K. & left for bed.

The New Yorker

Nevertheless, after she left for bed, I motioned to my cousin for the spatula.

HuffPost

In the bar, it was just the bartender and I, spending as long as we could maintaining an awkward silence before I left for bed.

Vice

In the bar, it was just me and the barman, spending as long as we could maintaining an awkward silence before I left for bed.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

What actually happens when you ghost is that you momentarily get out of a very small, very briefly annoying conversation before leaving for your bed or the next (much better, much more you) thing.

Vice

FolloWhatsy on Twitter.

Vice

On top of that, if you identify all these mild cases and put them in isolation beds, then you have no beds left for the real cases.

Science Magazine

The city had about 300 available beds left for single adults on Christmas Day, with another 400 or so emergency beds that could be set up to supplement its capacity of approximately 7,600 beds for single adults, and 18,000 beds for families, Mr. Osterreich said.

The New York Times

I took my family home, settled my dad on the couch, tucked my son, Jordan, in his bed and left for work.

The New York Times

Putting the last issue to bed, she left for France, which she considers her spiritual home and for which she scarcely has enough superlatives.

The New York Times

They saved his life, walked him over to healthcare, insisted he be given a bed and finally left for the night.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "left for bed" when you want to clearly indicate that someone departed from a location with the specific intention of going to sleep. This phrase emphasizes both the departure and the destination.

Common error

Avoid using "left for bed" interchangeably with phrases like "went to bed" or "went to sleep" if the departure aspect is not relevant. "Left for bed" specifically highlights the action of leaving a place to go to bed, while the others focus solely on the act of sleeping.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left for bed" functions as a verb phrase indicating a movement towards a specific location (the bed) with the intention of sleeping. It combines the action of leaving with the purpose of going to bed. Ludwig AI validates this usage with examples of its use.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

25%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "left for bed" is a grammatically sound and comprehensible expression indicating a departure with the intention of going to sleep. Ludwig AI analysis and usage examples demonstrate its correctness and applicability. While its frequency is rare, the phrase finds its place in contexts such as news media and general writing. It's essential to consider the nuanced meaning of "departure" when choosing this phrase over simpler alternatives like "went to bed". Consider variations in formality when opting for synonyms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went to sleep

Focuses directly on the action of sleeping rather than the act of going.

retired for the night

A more formal and old-fashioned way of saying someone went to bed.

turned in for the night

Emphasizes the act of going to bed as a routine or habit.

hit the hay

An informal and idiomatic way of saying someone went to bed.

went to slumber

A poetic way of saying someone went to sleep.

called it a night

Indicates the end of activities and the intention to sleep.

went to my room

Focuses on going to the place where one sleeps rather than specifically to sleep.

headed off to dreamland

A whimsical way of saying someone is going to sleep.

sought repose

A formal way of saying someone sought rest or sleep.

withdrew for the evening

Implies retreating to a private space for rest, not necessarily sleep.

FAQs

How can I use "left for bed" in a sentence?

You can use "left for bed" to describe someone's departure to go to sleep. For example, "After the movie, everyone "left for bed"."

What's a more formal alternative to "left for bed"?

A more formal alternative to "left for bed" is "retired for the night", which suggests a deliberate and dignified end to the day's activities.

Is "left for bed" the same as "went to bed"?

While similar, "left for bed" emphasizes the act of departing from a place to go to sleep, whereas "went to bed" simply indicates that someone went to sleep, without necessarily implying a departure.

Can I say "left to bed" instead of "left for bed"?

No, "left to bed" is not grammatically correct. The correct preposition to use in this context is "for", as it indicates the destination or purpose of leaving.