escalate
verb
es·ca·late
ˈe-skə-ˌlāt 
nonstandard
-skyə-
escalated; escalating
: to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope
a little war threatens to escalate into a huge ugly one—
Arnold Abrams
Arnold AbramsExamples of escalate in a Sentence
The conflict has escalated into an all-out war.
a time of escalating tensions
We are trying not to escalate the violence.
Salaries of leading executives have continued to escalate.
The cold weather has escalated fuel prices.
Recent Examples on the Web
As such--particularly if business continues to be tough--the pressures to close overlapping locations will escalate.
—Steve Dennis, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
With the escalating outbreak driving up egg prices to record highs, could that approach soon change?
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 20 Feb. 2025
The argument escalated, and the rapper allegedly fired a handgun at the acquaintance, who sustained minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
—Tracy Wright, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025
Trump has further escalated the limitations being placed on asylum claims, shutting down the CBP One app that allowed migrants to make appointments at crossings to ask for the status.
—Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
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Steve Dennis, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
With the escalating outbreak driving up egg prices to record highs, could that approach soon change?
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 20 Feb. 2025
The argument escalated, and the rapper allegedly fired a handgun at the acquaintance, who sustained minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
—Tracy Wright, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025
Trump has further escalated the limitations being placed on asylum claims, shutting down the CBP One app that allowed migrants to make appointments at crossings to ask for the status.
—Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escalate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
escalate
verb
es·ca·late
ˈes-kə-ˌlāt
escalated; escalating
: to increase in extent, volume, or scope : expand
escalate prices
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