put to sleep v 1: help someone go to bed; "Mother put the baby to sleep" 2: kill gently, as with an injection; "the cat was very ill and we had to put it to sleep" [syn: {put away}] 3: make unconscious by means of anesthetic drugs; "The patient must be anesthetized before the operation" [syn: {anesthetize}, {anaesthetize}, {anesthetise}, {anaesthetise}, {put under}, {put out}] [ant: {bring to}]