escalate
Translation
to escalate, to increase, to intensify
Examples
The conflict could escalate into a full-scale war.
The conflict could escalate into a full-scale war.
The company escalated the complaint to a manager.
The company escalated the complaint to a manager.
Fuel prices are expected to escalate.
Fuel prices are expected to escalate.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) escalates The situation is escalating.
to escalate ((sth.)) We had to escalate the problem.
((sth.)) escalates into ((sth.)) The protest escalated into a riot.
Similar Words
Synonyms: intensify, increase, worsen; Antonyms: de-escalate, decrease
Etymology
A back-formation from 'escalator'. The idea is of something going up in steps, like on an escalator.
Memory Tips
Imagine an argument getting more intense, going up step-by-step like an escalator.