escalate

verb

es·​ca·​late ˈe-skə-ˌlāt 

nonstandard

-skyə- 

escalated; escalating

intransitive verb

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

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

—Mike Mansfield

transitive verb

: expand sense 2

escalation

ˌe-skə-ˈlā-shən 

nonstandard -skyə-

noun

escalatory

ˈe-skə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

nonstandard -skyə-

adjective

Synonyms of escalate

• increase
• rise
• accelerate
• swell
• expand

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

The combination of maritime disruptions, nuclear tensions and the breakdown of diplomatic channels has created a combustible environment in which even routine stoppages can escalate quickly. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

Affordable housing opens the door to recovery Kris Proctor struggled with substance use disorder, and his addiction to drugs escalated after his dad's unexpected death in 2019. —Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Dec. 2025

This would ensure neighbors don't need to file several complaints before an issue is escalated. —Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 1 Dec. 2025

As systems assume greater operational authority, the stakes escalate dramatically. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from escalator

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing escalate

• de-escalate
• re-escalate

Rhymes for escalate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

escalate

verb

es·​ca·​late ˈes-kə-ˌlāt 

escalated; escalating

: to increase in extent, volume, or scope : expand

escalate prices

escalation

ˌes-kə-ˈlā-shən 

noun