Escalate
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈɛs.kə.leɪt/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Escalate is a verb meaning (ambitransitive) To increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up.
Meaning
(ambitransitive) To increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up.
More Meanings
- (transitive) In technical support, to transfer a customer, a problem, etc. to the next higher level of authority
- (uncommon) To climb.
- (rare) To move by escalator.
Example Sentences
Violence escalated during the election.
A small fight escalated into a big fight.
The tech 1 escalated the caller to a tech 2.
The shooting escalated the existing hostility.
Word Forms
- escalates
- escalating
- escalated
Synonyms for escalate
Depending on context, synonyms include escalator, intensify, step up.
Antonyms for escalate
Common opposites include weaken, de-escalate, step down.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include step up, intensify, heighten, heightened, heightening, enhance.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.