escalate

American  

[es-kuh-leyt] / ˈɛs kəˌleɪt /

verb (used with or without object)

escalated, escalating

1. to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc..

   to escalate a war; a time when prices escalate.

   Synonyms:

   swell, mount, advance

   Antonyms:

   fall, decrease, lower

2. to raise, lower, rise, or descend on or as if on an escalator.

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escalate British  

/ ˈɛskəˌleɪt /

verb

1. to increase or be increased in extent, intensity, or magnitude

   to escalate a war

   prices escalated because of inflation

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Pronunciation

See percolate.

Other Word Forms

• escalation noun
• escalatory adjective
• nonescalating adjective
• nonescalatory adjective
• reescalate verb
• reescalation noun

Etymology

Origin of escalate

First recorded in 1920–25; back formation from escalator

Example Sentences

Seeking compensation of that scale is likely to escalate tension between Ottawa and North American automakers, whose share of automobile production in Canada has declined steadily in the past decade.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Following the reported defect... Engineering has escalated the matter to Boeing for priority evaluation," the internal company note said.

From Barron's

A weakening job market and escalating geopolitical tensions also forced crypto investors to rethink their riskier holdings.

From The Wall Street Journal

This was before the situation in Minnesota escalated.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles closed its doors Friday in solidarity, citing “recent events in Minneapolis and the escalating violence in cities across our country.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• expand
• grow
• heighten
• intensify
• mount
• raise
• rise
• step up
• widen