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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.

“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

There are confirmed cases among those who already left the boat and questions swirling over possible exposures on flights, pressuring U.S. health officials to escalate their strategy to halt its spread.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 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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