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
Skip basic upkeep, and even minor issues can escalate into costly repairs.
—Danny Smith, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Charlotte’s restrictions prohibit many discretionary outdoor water uses and allow violations to carry fines beginning at $100, with escalating penalties for repeat offenses or if drought conditions worsen.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
When Trevor escalates his con and starts contacting Karl and calling her at work, Paula flips.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Depending on how aggressively partisan engineering escalates in the interim, the 2032 GPI is projected to range from 50 to 59, roughly four times the pre-2010 baseline and unprecedented in recent history.
—Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
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Danny Smith, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Charlotte’s restrictions prohibit many discretionary outdoor water uses and allow violations to carry fines beginning at $100, with escalating penalties for repeat offenses or if drought conditions worsen.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
When Trevor escalates his con and starts contacting Karl and calling her at work, Paula flips.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Depending on how aggressively partisan engineering escalates in the interim, the 2032 GPI is projected to range from 50 to 59, roughly four times the pre-2010 baseline and unprecedented in recent history.
—Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 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 2 Jun. 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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