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

Pronunciation Note

See percolate.

Derived Forms

• ˌescaˈlation, noun

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

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

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.

From Search Engine Watch

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.

From ProPublica

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

From ProPublica

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.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

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