escalate

American  

[es-kuh-leyt] / ˈɛs kəˌleɪt /

verb (used with or without object)

escalates, present (3rd person singular) escalated, past participle, past escalating present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• escalating
  present
• escalated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• escalate
  simple
• escalates
  simple
• have escalated
  perfect
• has escalated
  perfect
• am escalating
  progressive
• are escalating
  progressive
• is escalating
  progressive
• have been escalating
  perfect progressive
• has been escalating
  perfect progressive

Past

• escalated
  simple
• had escalated
  perfect
• was escalating
  progressive
• were escalating
  progressive
• had been escalating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will escalate
  simple
• will have escalated
  perfect
• will be escalating
  progressive
• will have been escalating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of escalate

First recorded in 1920–25; back formation from escalator

Explanation

If an argument between you and your brother progresses from mean looks to a fist fight, you could say that the tension between the two of you escalated. To escalate is intensify or increase quickly. When you see this word, picture an escalator that takes you up to the next floor quickly. But remember, there's something you don't like on that higher level because it's usually bad if something escalates. Prices escalate when something becomes scarce, be it a popular toy, a concert ticket, or food during a crisis. And if a war or conflict escalates, it becomes more intense and violent.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

escalate escalates escalated escalating

Plans to escalate the campaign have been shelved in part because of those shrinking supplies, The New York Times reported, citing two people briefed on the matter.

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

Social and political pushback against AI is likely to escalate in step with how effective the technology is at replacing human labor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

This would escalate to "requests for money or valuables under false pretences - such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses or investment opportunities".

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Iran, which lost many of its top leaders early in the war, may not want to escalate things too much either.

From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2026

“And you were trying to hurt their feelings. That’s the problem with stuff like this—everyone keeps trying to top one another, and then things escalate out of control.”

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

Visibility is limited, fear escalates quickly and decisions are made in split seconds.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

And if the conflict in the Middle East escalates, that could trigger a rise in prices again, said FxPro’s Kuptsikevich.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

The new summons, just weeks after Musk didn’t show up for a voluntary interview with French prosecutors, escalates a trans-Atlantic feud over France’s handling of its long-running probe of X.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026

The independent review led by Dr Jan Melia found "when police endorse misogyny, as they do here, risk to women escalates".

From BBC ● May 5, 2026

It becomes the subject of gossip and soon attracts the attention of the media, after which it escalates into a crisis of vast and humiliating proportions.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

However, interviewing for the survey ended on July 14, only shortly after the conflict in the Middle East escalated following a breakdown in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

As tensions escalated between him and a customer service agent, he took out his phone and began recording.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

The threats escalated on Tuesday, with the Yemeni group, which controls part of the civil-war-ravaged country, warning shipping companies to avoid all Saudi Arabian ports, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

But the intensity has rapidly escalated over the past week, with nearly 2.8 million hectares burned since the start of the year, per the latest government figures.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

While important as emotional safety valves, such expressions did nothing to change outward circumstances and the pressure for change escalated.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Obesity is an "escalating global epidemic", says the WHO.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Cooper also cited Drakeo’s 2021 song “IngleWeird,” interviews and music released by artists associated with the two camps as evidence of an escalating dispute.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

The main international oil contract Brent North Sea fell back under $100 Friday after surging past the key milestone the previous day on escalating Middle East strikes, helping US and European stock markets stabilise.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

The recent clashes with Saudi Arabia, coupled with escalating U.S. military action against Iran, have emboldened the Houthis to step in, analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Increasingly alarmed that the situation was escalating out of control, the chief phoned the mayor-elect, even though Grabarek would not assume office until Monday.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

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