escalate
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
“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
After Larissa is missing overnight without her medication, officers escalate the search to “high risk”.
From BBC • May 27, 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
Unfortunately, as Zambardino noted, “the errors multiply each other and can escalate rapidly to an unacceptable magnitude.”
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Vocabulary lists containing escalate
This Week in Words: September 25 - October 1, 2017
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This Week in Words: October 22 - 27, 2017
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Higher Learning: Synonyms For "Up"
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