escalate

[es-kuh-leyt]

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.

escalate

/ ˈɛskəˌleɪt /

verb

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

   to escalate a war

   prices escalated because of inflation

Pronunciation Note

See percolate.

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of escalate¹

First recorded in 1920–25; back formation from escalator

Word History and Origins

Origin of escalate¹

C20: back formation from _escalator

Example Sentences

Al-Houthi not only fired missiles at Israel, he vowed to escalate the conflict with Arab states should they assist Israel’s military, according to Arab mediators who received the message.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the U.S. is trimming combat power from NATO’s eastern front as Mr. Putin’s military escalates his drone incursions and other tests of the Western alliance and refuses to settle his war in Ukraine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Violence against Christians has escalated in northern Nigeria in the past decade, as violent Islamic extremists such as Boko Haram wage an insurgency against the country’s secular government and expand their influence in the region.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Tensions escalated throughout the 1990s and 2000s as Uyghur allegations of marginalisation by Han Chinese spurred separatist sentiments and deadly attacks, which intensified Beijing's crackdown.

Read more on BBC

Bangladesh's dock workers escalated a strike on Saturday at the country's biggest port, Chattogram, protesting plans by the interim government to lease operating licences to a foreign company.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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