escalate

5 definitions • 12 examples

to become or make something become greater or more serious:

His financial problems escalated after he became unemployed.

escalate into The row could escalate into full-blown conflict.

The decision to escalate UN involvement has been made in the hopes of a swift end to the hostilities.

The escalating rate of inflation will almost certainly bring escalating prices.

to involve someone more important or higher in rank in a situation or problem:

escalate something to someone You might need to escalate the issue to the next highest level management team.

The customer is threatening to escalate his complaint.

to make or become greater or more serious:

[ T ] Sending in more troops would escalate the war.

[ I ] Our costs escalated considerably over the next few years.

to become more important or serious, or to make something do this:

a problem/crisis/dispute escalates Mediation can be used to settle disputes at an early stage and stop problems escalating.

escalate a problem/matter/complaint If the customer remains dissatisfied with the response, they may then escalate the complaint.

to rise or to make something rise:

price/cost/demand escalates As prices escalated, fewer people could afford a mortgage on a house.

escalate costs/prices It was suggested that the UV coating on the windows would escalate the cost of the original plan.