escalate

1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number as the war between the two countries escalated, it threatened to become a global conflict Synonyms accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, increase, expand, gain, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, waxRelated Words jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge; heighten, intensify, redouble; blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up); crescendo, crest, peakAntonyms contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

2 to make greater in size, amount, or number the president promised to escalate the government's program to combat the dreaded disease Synonyms accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, increase, expand, extend, hype, multiply, pump up, raise, swell, stoke, supersize, upRelated Words boom, jump, skyrocket, spike; bump (up), ratchet (up) also rachet (up); blow up, dilate, distend, inflate; draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch; develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify; complement, supplement; beef (up), reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; maximize; accumulate, amass, collect; follow up, parlayNear Antonyms abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; compress, condense, constrict, contract; cut back, retrenchAntonyms abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)