Escalate
/ˈɛskəleɪt/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo increase in intensity, seriousness, or size; to make something worse or more serious.
/ˈɛskəleɪt/
To increase rapidly or make something worse.
The argument quickly escalated into a physical altercation.
💡 Simply: Think of a snowball rolling down a hill – it gets bigger and bigger, and the situation with the snowball is getting worse. That's what it means when things escalate! It's like the problem grows bigger and maybe even scary.
👶 For kids: When something escalates, it means it's getting bigger or more serious, like a small argument becoming a big fight.
More Examples
The company chose to escalate the advertising campaign.
The situation on the border could escalate into a military conflict.
How It's Used
"The conflict threatened to escalate into a full-scale war."
"The company decided to escalate the project timeline to meet the deadline."
"The government escalated the sanctions in response to the crisis."
To raise, increase, or make something grow in amount or intensity.
/ˈɛskəleɪt/
To raise or increase something to a higher level.
They decided to escalate the quality of the product.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite video game level: the challenge is getting harder! When something escalates, it's just like that – it's getting a higher or more challenging level, but this time in real life.
👶 For kids: When something escalates, it's like making a tower taller and taller.
More Examples
The company is escalating the investment in renewable energy.
We should escalate the conversation with the client.
How It's Used
"The company escalated employee salaries to attract better talent."
"Investors escalated their investments due to the positive market trends."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Escalate a situation
To make a situation more serious or worsen it.
"Ignoring the issue would only escalate the situation."
Escalate a problem
To make a problem more serious.
"If you don't resolve it, you'll escalate the problem."
To escalate things
To intensify a problem.
"I don't want to escalate things with my boss."
From Latin *scala* (ladder) via Italian *scalare* (to climb). The meaning evolved to refer to an upward movement or increase, first in a literal sense and later in abstract contexts.
The term 'escalate' gained prominence during the Cold War, particularly in reference to the increasing involvement in conflicts, such as the Vietnam War.
Memory tip
Imagine a situation climbing a ladder: things get worse as they 'escalate' to a higher level.