escalate

verb

Stress: first syllable

Syllables: es-ca-late (3)

English Definition

Increase rapidly or become more intense or serious.

Example Sentence

We do not want to escalate the argument any further.

US IPA /ˈeskəleɪt/

UK IPA /ˈeskəleɪt/

intensify heighten increase mount soar

de-escalate decrease diminish