Escalate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of ESCALATE

1

:

to become worse or to make (something) worse or more severe

[no object]

• The conflict has escalated into an all-out war.
• a time of escalating tensions/violence

[+ object]

• We are trying not to escalate the violence.

2

:

to become greater or higher or to make (something) greater or higher

[no object]

• Salaries of leading executives have continued to escalate.
• an effort to combat escalating [=_rising_] costs

[+ object]

• The cold weather has escalated fuel prices.

— escalation

/ˌɛskəˈleɪʃən/

noun

[count, noncount]