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escalate

[es-kuh-leyt] / ˈɛs kəˌleɪt /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"If tensions were to escalate further, particularly into open conflict, there's a clear risk of a sharper spike," he wrote.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

The newly inaugurated Lyndon Johnson had sky-high support after John F. Kennedy’s assassination, political cover that arguably helped Johnson muscle civil rights legislation through Congress and escalate the Vietnam War.

From Slate • Apr. 26, 2026

He can escalate the conflict, settle for the kind of deal he didn’t want or continue to use the blockade to bring pressure on Iran to compromise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

China’s role in that mediation remains unclear, other than Beijing advising Iran not to escalate.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

That’s when the Space Race began to escalate.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson




Vocabulary lists containing escalate