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—
Arnold Abrams
Arnold AbramsExamples 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
In the scene, when Zoey and Mira catch sight of the guys, their eyes turn into bulging red hearts, then change shape several more times as the attraction escalates.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
But if your symptoms have already escalated, see a medical professional instead of taking a DIY approach.
—Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 20 Oct. 2025
The escalating, hysterical hijinks are grounded in convincing dramatic stakes, and only our comic heroes are allowed to be funny, as the monster actors dutifully honor the hammy seriousness of their characters.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Tensions escalated in the months that followed, and Lorincz began video-recording her neighbor's children, threatening to beat them and using racial slurs.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
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Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
But if your symptoms have already escalated, see a medical professional instead of taking a DIY approach.
—Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 20 Oct. 2025
The escalating, hysterical hijinks are grounded in convincing dramatic stakes, and only our comic heroes are allowed to be funny, as the monster actors dutifully honor the hammy seriousness of their characters.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Tensions escalated in the months that followed, and Lorincz began video-recording her neighbor's children, threatening to beat them and using racial slurs.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escalate. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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escalate
verb
es·ca·late
ˈes-kə-ˌlāt
escalated; escalating
: to increase in extent, volume, or scope : expand
escalate prices
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