escalate

escalate Definition

☆ es·ca·late (es′kə lāt′)

intransitive verb escalated -·lat′ed, escalating -·lat′·ing

to rise on or as on an escalator
to expand step by step, as from a limited or local conflict into a general, esp. nuclear, war
to grow or increase rapidly, often to the point of becoming unmanageable, as prices or wages

Etymology: back-form. < escalator

transitive verb

to cause to escalate

Related Forms:

escalate Synonyms

escalate Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

website: Below are a number of new resources recently uploaded to the ESCalate website that you may find of interest.

Modifying Another Word

quickly: Like Bea Smith, Rita develops an intense hatred of Joan Ferguson, which quickly escalates into an all out war.

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