escalate

[ es-kuh-leyt ]

verb (used with or without object)

, es·ca·lat·ed, es·ca·lat·ing.

1. to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.:

   to escalate a war; a time when prices escalate.

   Synonyms: swell, mount, advance

   Antonyms: fall, decrease, lower

2. to raise, lower, rise, or descend on or as if on an escalator.

escalate

/ ˈɛskəˌleɪt /

verb

1. to increase or be increased in extent, intensity, or magnitude

   prices escalated because of inflation

   to escalate a war

Pronunciation Note

See percolate.

Derived Forms

• ˌescaˈlation, noun

Other Words From

• esca·lation noun
• es·ca·la·to·ry [es, -k, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• non·esca·lating adjective
• non·esca·la·tory adjective
• re·esca·late verb reescalated reescalating
• rees·ca·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of escalate¹

First recorded in 1920–25; back formation from escalator

Word History and Origins

Origin of escalate¹

C20: back formation from escalator

Example Sentences

Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East and heightened political sensitivities, it remains to be seen how audiences will receive a film that revisits a tragedy that still haunts many today.

From Los Angeles Times

Forays by settlers and Israeli soldiers to uproot Palestinians' olive trees, both in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, have escalated dramatically in the wake of the Hamas attack on Oct.

From Salon

Tensions between Israel and the UN over its peacekeeping operations in southern Lebanon have escalated in recent months, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for the forces to pull out of “combat areas”.

From BBC

Israel escalated its attacks in September with thousands of airstrikes on Lebanon’s southern and eastern regions, along with the capital, and launched an invasion in a bid to uproot Hezbollah from areas near the border.

From Los Angeles Times

He kept escalating his incendiary comments while the Harris campaign focused on desperately trying to highlight how extreme, divisive and mendacious he was.

From Salon

Related Words

• expand
• grow
• heighten
• intensify
• mount
• raise
• rise
• step up
• widen