Word
escalate
Phoneticses·ca·late, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɛskəˌɫeɪt/
UK/ˈɛskɐlˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to intensify
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to become or make something more serious, intense, or larger.
v. to increase rapidly in intensity, magnitude, or scope. Often used for conflicts, costs, or tensions.
日本語:エスカレートする※
“The small argument quickly escalated into a serious fight between the two neighbors.”
“What began as a minor trade dispute has escalated into a full-scale diplomatic crisis, threatening regional stability.”
Antonyms
02to transfer to a manager
C1 · Advanced Technical · Academic
v. to pass a problem or a customer to a person with more authority.
v. to refer a matter or customer to a higher level of authority or a more senior department for resolution.
“If the clerk cannot help you, they will escalate your complaint to the manager.”
“The technical support agent was unable to resolve the server failure and had to escalate the ticket to the senior engineering team.”
03to climb
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
v. to move upwards or climb.
v. to move upwards or ascend. This sense is the original root meaning but is now rarely used in modern English compared to its figurative senses.
“The hikers watched the goats escalate the steep rocky slope with ease.”
“In the older text, the author describes how the explorers had to escalate the mountain pass before nightfall.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “escalate” in context.
Verb
01. escalate into violence
“What started as a peaceful protest quickly escalated into violence after the police arrived.”
verb + prep + noun
02. escalate the situation
“Sending more troops to the region will only serve to escalate the situation further.”
verb + noun
03. threaten to escalate
“The border dispute threatens to escalate into a full-scale military conflict.”
verb + infinitive
Noun
04. conflict escalated
“The local conflict escalated despite international efforts to broker a ceasefire.”
noun + verb
Adverb
05. escalate sharply
“Tensions between the two rival factions have escalated sharply over the last forty-eight hours.”
verb + adv
06. rapidly escalate
“Costs began to rapidly escalate once the project entered the second phase of development.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb can be used both transitively (to escalate something) and intransitively (something escalates).
Pitfall
The problem was escalated by itself
The problem escalated
When a situation grows on its own, use the intransitive form without 'be' or 'by'.
Real-World Examples
“The escalating conflict has led to fears that the Houthis could fully block Bab al-Mandeb, a vital waterway which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a major supply route.” “The Security Council held an open debate on Tuesday which is expected to address escalating Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank as attacks on Palestinians and their property continue.” “Earlier this summer, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, also escalated efforts against the ICC, announcing a campaign aimed at “ dismantling ” it by pressuring member states to leave the court.” Etymology
Back-formation from escalator.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/escalate
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0