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
As global anomalies escalate, Wyle and her patients find themselves on the run, racing against time to unlock the secrets hidden in their altered genetics.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
The two men were initially trying to exchange information when the situation escalated, police said in the release.
—Timia Cobb
breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
As Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting leader on Monday, rights group warned of escalating repression, with checkpoints being erected around the country, amid reports of price gouging and growing hunger.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
On work trips, the abuse escalated to rape, Corletto said in the interview and in his lawsuit.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
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Todd Spangler, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
The two men were initially trying to exchange information when the situation escalated, police said in the release.
—Timia Cobb
breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
As Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting leader on Monday, rights group warned of escalating repression, with checkpoints being erected around the country, amid reports of price gouging and growing hunger.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
On work trips, the abuse escalated to rape, Corletto said in the interview and in his lawsuit.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 5 Jan. 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 7 Jan. 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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