escalate

1 of 2

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

escalation

2 of 2

noun

es·​ca·​la·​tion

plural -s

1

: an increase (as in the price of an article or in a ship's tonnage) that counteracts an unjust discrepancy (as between the price of a product and the cost of material or between the tonnage of one nation's ships and that of another when both are regulated by the same treaty)

specifically : the adjustment of prices proportionally and usually periodically and automatically to an alteration (such as a rise) in the cost of materials or a similar adjustment of wages to an alteration in the cost of living

2

: an increasing in extent, volume, number, amount, or scope

escalatory

ˈeskələˌtōrē 

-ˌtȯr-, 

÷-kyə-

adjective

Synonyms of escalate

Verb

• increase
• rise
• accelerate
• swell
• expand

Examples of escalate in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

The trip by the Americans follows a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, as both sides have escalated their aerial attacks. — Samya Kullab, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026

What began as a lawsuit filed by members of the 2022 recruiting class seeking an additional season of eligibility has now escalated into a legal battle involving five different parties. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

The Justice Department’s antitrust division was briefly instructed to pause cooperation with Canadian authorities this week, as trade tensions continue to escalate between the two countries. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026

The legal fight over eligibility rules that has engulfed college sports escalated Thursday when the SEC filed a federal lawsuit against LSU in Alabama to counter the anticipated ruling for the players in Louisiana. — Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from escalator

Noun

escalator + -ion

First Known Use

Verb

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