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ESCALATE definition: 1. to become or make something become greater or more serious: 2. to involve someone more…. Learn more.
The meaning of ESCALATE is to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope. How to use escalate in a sentence. to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope; expand…
To escalate is intensify or increase quickly. When you see this word, picture an escalator that takes you up to the next floor quickly. But remember, there's something you don't like on that higher level because it's usually bad if something escalates.
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.
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.
It took one week for a localized event to escalate to world war. Such an attack could escalate into a widespread conflict, although I doubt it. It may escalate into violence causing damage or injury. She could let this escalate or she could accept the fact that he was trying to improve.
Definition of escalate verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
ESCALATE definition: 1. If a violent or bad situation escalates or is escalated, it quickly becomes worse or more…. Learn more.
1. transitive verb/intransitive 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. The protests escalated into five days of rioting.
to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.: to escalate a war; a time when prices escalate. to raise, lower, rise, or descend on or as if on an escalator. 1920–25; back formation from escalator
