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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.

Hitting Kuwait signaled a willingness to escalate but without hitting more sensitive sites in the Gulf’s more powerful states that have previously struck back against Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Early problems were more easily resolved internally, but she later felt she had no choice but to escalate her case.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

“Failures involving storage tanks or containment systems can escalate into large-scale public safety emergencies within minutes,” Filippo Marchino, founder and managing partner of the X-Law Group, said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

"Once demands escalate to the point of calling for a resignation, there's no backing down. It becomes more of a war of attrition," she said.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Ironically, the good times in between were what allowed it to drag out and escalate as far as it did.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah




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