escalate
verb (used with or without object)
to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc..
escalates
-
present tense formof escalate (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The situation escalates as the mariachi music begins playing and the couple approach a display of white roses and candles laid out on the grass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
Over the following fortnight, the unrest escalates dramatically.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Attempts at diplomacy have floundered as fighting escalates on several fronts across Africa's third-largest country.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
Will the U.S. military learn before the price escalates?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
But sometimes she escalates before I even know if the situation calls for escalation.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
