de-escalate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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de-escalatesimple
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de-escalatessimple
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have de-escalatedperfect
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has de-escalatedperfect
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am de-escalatingprogressive
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are de-escalatingprogressive
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is de-escalatingprogressive
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have been de-escalatingperfect progressive
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has been de-escalatingperfect progressive
Past
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de-escalatedsimple
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had de-escalatedperfect
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was de-escalatingprogressive
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were de-escalatingprogressive
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had been de-escalatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of de-escalate
Explanation
When something de-escalates, it's turned down a notch, becoming quieter or calmer. If you want to de-escalate an argument between siblings you're babysitting, you might try giving them both a popsicle. In politics, de-escalating a situation can be a matter of life and death, as when mediators help de-escalate a conflict in order to avoid a war between two countries or groups. Whenever someone de-escalates an argument, they take something with potential to turn ugly or even violent and tone things down so that the issues can be calmly discussed. Police officers, diplomats, and elementary school teachers all need to learn to de-escalate intense situations.
Vocabulary lists containing de-escalate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Despite previous talks to de-escalate the conflict, the International Energy Agency said in its July oil-market report that Middle East export refineries have yet to restart.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
The diplomat added that "communications channels created to de-escalate any incidents are in place" after the strikes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
“Our officers did the best they could to de-escalate that situation ... from occurring into something fatal.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
“Both sides need a narrative that allows them to de-escalate without looking as if they capitulated.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
Children need positive discipline and they need, they need to be able to de-escalate when things get stressful.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
While Citi’s commodity team is cautious on gold in the near term, it expects gold prices to bottom out when the Strait of Hormuz situation eventually de-escalates, the analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
“Assuming the war de-escalates in coming weeks and months, the U.S. economy should enjoy a better year of job growth in 2026 than 2025,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Fifth Third Commercial Bank.
From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026
The guidance assumes that the conflict in the Middle East de-escalates over the near-term and that SAP will close its deal for Reltio.
From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026
A security worker de-escalates the situation, and a social worker helps them take some deep breaths.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2023
“It’s hard to see how the situation de-escalates from here,” wrote Madiha Afzal, a fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, in a text message.
From New York Times ● May 10, 2023
The price of oil on Monday fell by more than 9% to $87.59 a barrel at one point on hopes the conflict could be de-escalated.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
As the first phase of his most consequential military triumph ended, Johnson decided not to seek re-election and de-escalated in an effort to secure peace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Though surprised, the officer seated at the wheel de-escalated the situation and helped the young man find his family, the father wrote to Movius.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
I’ve known many police officers in my long career covering crime who could have de-escalated that event without bloodshed.
From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2026
Both sides have de-escalated tariff levels but their truce remains shaky and is set to expire in early November.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2025
President Abdel-Fattah Sissi of Egypt also said Monday that his country had delivered “clear messages” to Iran about de-escalating the conflict.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2026
Before Monday's strike, China had dispatched a special envoy to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan, pledging to play a "constructive role in de-escalating tensions".
From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026
Oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel on Monday, reaching levels not seen since 2022, as the conflict showed no signs of de-escalating, adding to growing concerns of a lasting supply shock.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 9, 2026
—Oil prices slipped on signs of de-escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with officials from both countries set to meet in Turkey this week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
This is attributed to a number of factors including major oil producers agreeing to keep output unchanged and signs of de-escalating tensions between the US and Iran.
From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
