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- Dictionaryes·ca·late/ˈeskəˌlāt/
verb
- 1. increase rapidly: "the price of tickets escalated" Similar Opposite
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The meaning of ESCALATE is to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope. How to use escalate in a sentence.
ESCALATE definition: 1. to become or make something become greater or more serious: 2. to involve someone more…. Learn more.
verb (used with or without object) , es·ca·lat·ed, es·ca·lat·ing. to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.: to escalate a war; a time when prices escalate. Synonyms: swell, mount, advance. Antonyms: fall, decrease, lower. to raise, lower, rise, or descend on or as if on an escalator. escalate.
/ˌɛskəˈleɪt/ /ˈɛskəleɪt/ IPA guide. Other forms: escalating; escalated; escalates. If an argument between you and your brother progresses from mean looks to a fist fight, you could say that the tension between the two of you escalated. To escalate is intensify or increase quickly.
verb. If a bad situation escalates or if someone or something escalates it, it becomes greater in size, seriousness, or intensity. [journalism] Both unions and management fear the dispute could escalate. [VERB] The protests escalated into five days of rioting. [VERB + into] Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict. [VERB noun]
1. To increase, enlarge, or intensify: escalated the hostilities in the Persian Gulf. 2. To pass (a transaction or case) on to a higher level in an organizational hierarchy: escalated the customer's complaint. [Back-formation from escalator .] es′ca·la′tion n. es′ca·la·to′ry (-lə-tôr′ē) adj.
To increase, enlarge, or intensify. Escalated the hostilities in the Persian Gulf. American Heritage. To expand step by step, as from a limited or local conflict into a general, esp. nuclear, war. Webster's New World. More Verb Definitions (2) Synonyms: step up. intensify. climb. broaden. ascend. advance. rise. mount. increase. heighten.
ESCALATE definition: 1. If a violent or bad situation escalates or is escalated, it quickly becomes worse or more…. Learn more.
to become or make something greater, worse, more serious, etc. escalate (into something) The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. the escalating costs of health care escalate something (into something) We do not want to escalate the war.
Jun 2, 2024 · ( transitive, intransitive) To increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up . Violence escalated during the election. The shooting escalated the existing hostility. A small fight escalated into a big fight. ( transitive) In technical support, to transfer a customer, a problem, etc. to the next higher level of authority.
