escalate

/ˈɛs.kə.leɪt/

verb 4

Collocations

(verb.) become/make sth worse

ADV

rapidly

steadily

The argument between the neighbors has been steadily escalating over the past few months.

suddenly

PREP

into

The disagreement between the neighbors escalated into a serious legal battle over the property line.

(verb.) increase

ADV

sharply

The argument between the neighbors escalated sharply when the fence dispute began.

Definitions

verb

To increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up.

Violence escalated during the election.

The shooting escalated the existing hostility.

In technical support, to transfer a customer, a problem, etc. to the next higher level of authority

The tech 1 escalated the caller to a tech 2.

To climb.

Thus, actually a prior uncounselled misdemeanor conviction may often prove to be a boon to one escalating the ladder of crime to the point where he has been convicted of a major aggravated offense.

They escalated upstairs to the Mall coffee tables.

To move by escalator.

Escalator after escalator flowed up to the heights above, […] Dov escalated up beside me, scowling.

There were people just about everywhere, packing the garish fluorescent-lit corridors, riding in humming golf carts, escalating up and down escalators, floating along on those George Jetson moving sidewalk thingies.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

verb — increase in extent or intensity

intensify

Antonyms

de-escalate
weaken

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

Violence escalated during the election.

Wiktionary

The shooting escalated the existing hostility.

Wiktionary

A small fight escalated into a big fight.

Wiktionary

The White House worries that the crisis could escalate.

Tatoeba · #3072213

Don't allow it to escalate.

Tatoeba · #5738409

Algeria and Morocco occasionally escalate diplomatic tensions.

Tatoeba · #10138805

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, escalate is marked as rare. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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