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

Of significance, the city is asking the Blazers to pay $3 million annually for a property tax offset, which would escalate over time. — Jason Quick, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Oil prices rose above $90 a barrel for the first time in more than a month, as the conflict between the United States and Iran escalated further, resulting in the deaths of three US service members and a strike on a tanker. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Violators with a significant unpaid ticket balance receive escalating fines and penalties and can eventually be taken to court. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

In the chaotic main event, Cody Rhodes defeated Gunther by DQ when Sami Zayn interfered, escalating tensions ahead of Saturday's tag match. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

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
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

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