sentence to

sentence (one) to (something)

To impose a particular legal penalty upon one who is found guilty of a crime. The judge sentenced the former CEO to 30 years in prison for his role in defrauding millions of customers over the span of 15 years. They sentenced him to 5 years of hard labor for simply stealing a loaf of bread.See also: sentence

sentence someone to something (for something)

[for a judge] to order someone to suffer confinement, death, or labor for committing a crime. The judge sentenced Roger to three years in prison for the crime. The judge sentenced him to hard labor.See also: sentence