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.
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Seoul's presidential office said on Tuesday the drills did not reflect "any intention to attack North Korea or escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula".
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
“Those who escalate chaos and endanger officers will be held accountable. Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to protecting the men and women sworn to keep our communities safe.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
The atmosphere was tense and uncertain; no-one knows when the situation could escalate.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
If a customer leaves negative feedback or asks to escalate to a human, there is no charge.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 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
Meta settles teen safety suit, the U.S.-Canada trade war escalates, and Scott Bessent messes around in the markets again.
From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026
The move escalates a feud with the nation’s premier legal organization.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
PlayOn Sports will pay $810,000 in the first year that also escalates 3% each year of the contract.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
As debate escalates over the implications of open-weight artificial intelligence in both Washington and Silicon Valley, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made his position clear on Friday.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
A hum like a washing machine escalates in volume until I think my ears might burst.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
He now hopes the case will be escalated to Alistair Burt, the UK's first ever envoy for complex consular cases.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Canada on Tuesday announced tariffs on roughly $20 billion of U.S. goods, days after the U.S. escalated trade tension by enacting new levies on $20 billion of Canadian goods.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
The price escalated from $54 billion to $72 billion and Disney was left with a debt load of $25 billion and mixed returns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
The situation escalated when it happened again two months later.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
It’s vulnerability that breeds with self-doubt and then is escalated, often deliberately, by fear.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
The report, by derivatives analysts led by Bram Kaplan, called that “curious” in light of the escalating U.S. trade dispute.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
The meeting was "part of efforts aiming at de-escalation after recent Israeli bombardment of Syrian territory, escalating tensions in southern Syria, and in support of stability in Syria and the region", said the source.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
The longtime allies and economic partners, who have enjoyed free trade for decades, are now in an escalating trade war with no clear off ramp.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
That would represent the fifth year of escalating increases, according to WTW.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
And whoever the man was, he was escalating.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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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