escalate

verb

es·ca·late ˈe-skə-ˌlāt

nonstandard

-skyə-

escalated; escalating

Synonyms of escalate next

intransitive verb

: to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope

a little war threatens to escalate into a huge ugly one—

Arnold Abrams

transitive verb

: expand sense 2

escalation

ˌe-skə-ˈlā-shən

nonstandard -skyə-

noun

escalatory

ˈe-skə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē

nonstandard -skyə-

adjective

Examples 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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The escalating strikes are taking place during one of the coffee giant's busiest periods. —

Alan Neuhauser, Axios, 27 Dec. 2024 Tuesday's strike that hit Louisville is part of five days of continually escalating strikes that began Dec. 20. —

Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 24 Dec. 2024 That’s what the show does so well: escalate, escalate, escalate. —

Jen Chaney, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024 Though Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman denies any wrongdoing on his client’s part, the matter seems to be escalating quickly with many Hollywood A-listers flocking to Lively’s side and further industry blowback against Baldoni. —

Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for escalate