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

R.V. is among what immigration attorneys describe as an escalating trend: some immigrants who win protection from deportation to their home countries are being detained indefinitely.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The farmers have announced that they will escalate their protests in the coming days in many cities across the country.

Read more on Barron's

Now a chip company has allegedly escalated this corporate warfare by financing third-party lawsuits to heap costs on a competitor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Much of the price of oil, however, is “out of the president’s hands — outside of enforcement of sanctions and potential kinetic military actions that could escalate supply risks,” he said.

Read more on MarketWatch

The crisis had escalated beyond recovery and she felt it was the right thing to do, the insider added.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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