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 …—
Mike Mansfield
Mike MansfieldExamples 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
Part of the criticism has centered around the plan’s escalating price tag, which grew to $325 million in February, compared to roughly $200 million at the end of 2024.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Two precincts are engaged in ongoing pilot programs to help officers better assess the possibility that a case could escalate to a homicide and improve coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
—Conor Wight, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
As Siâvash increasingly retreats into imaginary characters, the documentary traces a sibling relationship shaped and strained by displacement, set against a backdrop of escalating tension between Iran and the United States that carries personal consequences for both subjects.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Providing the exact location of a potential burglary, suspect description and vehicle description (including the make/model/color of the car) will help officers respond quickly before the confrontation escalates to prevent future crime.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
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Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Two precincts are engaged in ongoing pilot programs to help officers better assess the possibility that a case could escalate to a homicide and improve coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
—Conor Wight, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
As Siâvash increasingly retreats into imaginary characters, the documentary traces a sibling relationship shaped and strained by displacement, set against a backdrop of escalating tension between Iran and the United States that carries personal consequences for both subjects.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Providing the exact location of a potential burglary, suspect description and vehicle description (including the make/model/color of the car) will help officers respond quickly before the confrontation escalates to prevent future crime.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escalate. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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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