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View synonyms for escalate

escalate

[ es-kuh-leyt ]

verb (used with or without object)

, es·ca·lat·ed, es·ca·lat·ing.
  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.


escalate

/ ˈɛskəˌleɪt /

verb

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

    prices escalated because of inflation

    to escalate a war

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Pronunciation Note

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Derived Forms

  • ˌescaˈlation, noun
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Other Words From

  • esca·lation noun
  • es·ca·la·to·ry [es, -k, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
  • non·esca·lating adjective
  • non·esca·la·tory adjective
  • re·esca·late verb reescalated reescalating
  • rees·ca·lation noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of escalate1

First recorded in 1920–25; back formation from escalator
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Word History and Origins

Origin of escalate1

C20: back formation from escalator
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Example Sentences

The talks around the TikTok ban have escalated fast into reality as countries continue to investigate the potential security threat and the platform’s data and security policies.

Apple further escalated its fight with Epic Games, filing a countersuit to stop the game maker from using its own payment system for Fortnite.

From Fortune

In response to the latest demand, Intuit’s lawyers took the rare step of escalating matters, filing a petition asking FTC commissioners to step in and significantly narrow the scope of what it had to produce.

The investigator said he would escalate the case and see if the facility had submitted any other suspect claims.

Amid escalating border tensions, India is staging a trade war of sorts against China.

From Quartz

Given the potential for a cyber tit-for-tat to escalate, Obama has even more incentive to find a diplomatic solution.

It does, and certainly has, helped to escalate the crisis by having this militaristic response to it.

If Rwanda does cross the border in response, it would significantly escalate the war and humanitarian crisis.

The most important thing, he and these experts agreed, was finding an environment where slights never escalate to violence.

Washington, in particular, has been loath to do anything that might escalate.

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