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| Date: | 1900-2000 |
| Origin: | escalator |
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es‧ca‧late
[intransitive and transitive]
[intransitive and transitive]1 if fighting, violence, or a bad situation escalates, or if someone escalates it, it becomes much worse The fighting on the border is escalating. We do not want to escalate the war.
The fighting on the border is escalating.We do not want to escalate the war.2 to become higher or increase, or to make something do this : The costs were escalating alarmingly. policies that escalate their own costs escalating crime
The costs were escalating alarmingly.policies that escalate their own costsescalating crime —escalation noun [uncountable and countable] the escalation of fighting in June a rapid escalation in value
noun [uncountable and countable] the escalation of fighting in Junea rapid escalation in value