Escalate
verb
To make or become greater or more serious.
His financial problems escalated after he became unemployed.
Often appears as...
- escalate the situation
- escalate the conflict
verb
To move up or to a higher position.
If the problem persists, we will need to escalate it to the manager.
Often appears as...
- escalate to management
- escalate the issue
verb
To involve (someone or something) more deeply.
It's best not to escalate him in this argument.
Often appears as...
- escalate the involvement
- escalate the commitment
verb
To increase step by step.
We will escalate the frequency of these meetings as the project deadline approaches.
Often appears as...
- escalate the frequency
- escalate the intensity
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To make or become greater or more serious.
His financial problems escalated after he became unemployed.
Often appears as...
- escalate the situation
- escalate the conflict
verb
To move up or to a higher position.
If the problem persists, we will need to escalate it to the manager.
Often appears as...
- escalate to management
- escalate the issue
verb
To involve (someone or something) more deeply.
It's best not to escalate him in this argument.
Often appears as...
- escalate the involvement
- escalate the commitment
verb
To increase step by step.
We will escalate the frequency of these meetings as the project deadline approaches.
Often appears as...
- escalate the frequency
- escalate the intensity
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Increasing Severity
Used to describe situations that are growing worse or more intense.
Disagreements quickly escalate into full-blown arguments.
Pro Tip 2/3Action Reaction
Shows that an action has led to a more severe level of response.
Provocative actions by one country could escalate into war.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Intensification
Implies that emotions or reactions have become stronger or more aggressive.
Their debate escalated into a heated exchange.
Pro Tip 1/3Increasing Severity
Used to describe situations that are growing worse or more intense.
Disagreements quickly escalate into full-blown arguments.
Pro Tip 2/3Action Reaction
Shows that an action has led to a more severe level of response.
Provocative actions by one country could escalate into war.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Intensification
Implies that emotions or reactions have become stronger or more aggressive.
Their debate escalated into a heated exchange.
Pro Tip 1/3Increasing Severity
Used to describe situations that are growing worse or more intense.
Disagreements quickly escalate into full-blown arguments.
Pro Tip 2/3Action Reaction
Shows that an action has led to a more severe level of response.
Provocative actions by one country could escalate into war.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Intensification
Implies that emotions or reactions have become stronger or more aggressive.
Their debate escalated into a heated exchange.
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Video examples
Daniel Wolpert: The real...
It quickly escalates. And children tend to get into fights which escalate in terms of force. Now when I screamed at my children to stop, sometimes they would both say to me the other person hit them harder. Now I happen to know my children don't lie, so I thought, as a neuroscientist, it was important how I could explain
Video examples
Through the shattered...
before the last escalation of violence the lives they were living would hardly be imaginable to people fortunate enough to live in peace along with the great deal of land that the family has lost due to the establishment of the buffer zones the remaining land was considered to be too dangerous to use so workers
Video examples
Adam Grant: What frogs...
failing to rethink their strategies. Escalation of commitment explains why you might have stuck around too long in a miserable job, why you've probably waited for a table way too long at a restaurant and why you might have hung on to a bad relationship long after your friends encouraged you to leave.
Video examples
Karen Armstrong: 2008...
and to give practical guidelines to member states about how to avoid the escalation of further extremism. And the Alliance has told me that they are very happy to work with it. The importance of this is that this is -- I can see some of you starting to look worried,
Video examples
Kent Larson: Brilliant...
More than half the people now in the world live in cities, and that will just continue to escalate. Cities are places of celebration, personal expression. You have the flash mobs of pillow fights that -- I've been to a couple. They're quite fun. You have --
Video examples
Greg Long: Big Wave...
to following the greatest ocean storms around the globe, in pursuit of riding the biggest waves in the world. As you continue to ride larger and larger waves, the stakes at play in order to do so, continue to escalate. Eventually, you get to a point,
Video examples
What causes panic...
that fear can’t hurt you, but holding on to it will escalate panic. Even if you’ve never had a panic attack, understanding them will help you identify one in yourself or someone else— and recognizing them is the first step in preventing them.
Video examples
How does your immune...
and innumerable other potential infections over the course of a lifetime. Without it, those threats would escalate into something far more dangerous. So the next time you catch a cold or scratch a mosquito bite, think of the immune system.
Video examples
What we know (and don't...
allowing the virus to proliferate. Starting anywhere from two to twenty days after contraction, initial symptoms like high temperature, aching, and sore throat resemble those of a typical flu, but quickly escalate to vomiting,
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
unlike any the Corral workers have encountered before they are big and aggressive instead of backing down they meet the challenge head-on and the encounter begins to escalate for the
Video examples
Daniel Wolpert: The real...
It quickly escalates. And children tend to get into fights which escalate in terms of force. Now when I screamed at my children to stop, sometimes they would both say to me the other person hit them harder. Now I happen to know my children don't lie, so I thought, as a neuroscientist, it was important how I could explain
Video examples
Through the shattered...
before the last escalation of violence the lives they were living would hardly be imaginable to people fortunate enough to live in peace along with the great deal of land that the family has lost due to the establishment of the buffer zones the remaining land was considered to be too dangerous to use so workers
Video examples
Adam Grant: What frogs...
failing to rethink their strategies. Escalation of commitment explains why you might have stuck around too long in a miserable job, why you've probably waited for a table way too long at a restaurant and why you might have hung on to a bad relationship long after your friends encouraged you to leave.
Video examples
Karen Armstrong: 2008...
and to give practical guidelines to member states about how to avoid the escalation of further extremism. And the Alliance has told me that they are very happy to work with it. The importance of this is that this is -- I can see some of you starting to look worried,
Video examples
Kent Larson: Brilliant...
More than half the people now in the world live in cities, and that will just continue to escalate. Cities are places of celebration, personal expression. You have the flash mobs of pillow fights that -- I've been to a couple. They're quite fun. You have --
Video examples
Greg Long: Big Wave...
to following the greatest ocean storms around the globe, in pursuit of riding the biggest waves in the world. As you continue to ride larger and larger waves, the stakes at play in order to do so, continue to escalate. Eventually, you get to a point,
Video examples
What causes panic...
that fear can’t hurt you, but holding on to it will escalate panic. Even if you’ve never had a panic attack, understanding them will help you identify one in yourself or someone else— and recognizing them is the first step in preventing them.
Video examples
How does your immune...
and innumerable other potential infections over the course of a lifetime. Without it, those threats would escalate into something far more dangerous. So the next time you catch a cold or scratch a mosquito bite, think of the immune system.
Video examples
What we know (and don't...
allowing the virus to proliferate. Starting anywhere from two to twenty days after contraction, initial symptoms like high temperature, aching, and sore throat resemble those of a typical flu, but quickly escalate to vomiting,
Video examples
BBC Earth 50 Top Natural...
unlike any the Corral workers have encountered before they are big and aggressive instead of backing down they meet the challenge head-on and the encounter begins to escalate for the
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Dawn Foster
British Journalist
A smart society recognises the benefits of treating problems before they escalate, either through helping people quit smoking or moving them out of mould-blighted bedsits. A compassionate society also tries to limit human misery and suffering wherever possible.
Quote examples
William Barr
American Public Servant
It was once understood that resistance is a serious crime because it necessarily triggers an escalation of violence that endangers the life not only of the police office, but also the suspect.
Quote examples
Barack Obama
American President
We've protected thousands of people in Libya; we have not seen a single U.S. casualty; there's no risks of additional escalation. This operation is limited in time and in scope.
Quote examples
Steve Garvey
American Athlete
Just from being with my grandmother, my maturity escalated. And now I'm in tune to the needs of people. It was a large responsibility, taking care of a human being.
Quote examples
Lyndon B. Johnson
American President
Our numbers have increased in Vietnam because the aggression of others has increased in Vietnam. There is not, and there will not be, a mindless escalation.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
The American escalation of the war in Laos provoked a response by the Communist forces, which now control more of Laos than ever before.
Quote examples
Helen Fisher
American Scientist
Kissing is not just kissing. It is a major escalation or de-escalation point in a powerful process of mate choice.
Quote examples
Drew Goddard
American Director
I've always said I'm less interested in twists as I am about escalation.
Quote examples
Bill Luther
American Politician
It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.
Quote examples
Austin Rivers
American Basketball Player
I don't really like to escalate anything.
Quote examples
Dawn Foster
British Journalist
A smart society recognises the benefits of treating problems before they escalate, either through helping people quit smoking or moving them out of mould-blighted bedsits. A compassionate society also tries to limit human misery and suffering wherever possible.
Quote examples
William Barr
American Public Servant
It was once understood that resistance is a serious crime because it necessarily triggers an escalation of violence that endangers the life not only of the police office, but also the suspect.
Quote examples
Barack Obama
American President
We've protected thousands of people in Libya; we have not seen a single U.S. casualty; there's no risks of additional escalation. This operation is limited in time and in scope.
Quote examples
Steve Garvey
American Athlete
Just from being with my grandmother, my maturity escalated. And now I'm in tune to the needs of people. It was a large responsibility, taking care of a human being.
Quote examples
Lyndon B. Johnson
American President
Our numbers have increased in Vietnam because the aggression of others has increased in Vietnam. There is not, and there will not be, a mindless escalation.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
The American escalation of the war in Laos provoked a response by the Communist forces, which now control more of Laos than ever before.
Quote examples
Helen Fisher
American Scientist
Kissing is not just kissing. It is a major escalation or de-escalation point in a powerful process of mate choice.
Quote examples
Drew Goddard
American Director
I've always said I'm less interested in twists as I am about escalation.
Quote examples
Bill Luther
American Politician
It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.
Quote examples
Austin Rivers
American Basketball Player
I don't really like to escalate anything.
Example 1 of 10
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