escalate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'escalate' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation when something gradually gets worse or becomes more intense. For example: The situation in the Middle East has been escalating for several years.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"In the event that the occupation does not immediately end, LSE will have no alternative but to escalate this to legal proceedings".

The Guardian

"This makes it more necessary than ever to go to the international community, and to go to the ICC and escalate peaceful resistance and boycott against the occupation," Wasel Abu Youssef, a PLO leader, added.

The Guardian

Often the police don't respond fast enough to deal with the issues, so they easily escalate".

The Guardian

You're responsible for EVERYTHING and no longer have a manager to escalate your issues to.

The Guardian

The affair threatened to escalate into an international legal battle between the Germans and the Japanese.

The Guardian

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement condemning the breakdown of the ceasefire, adding he was "gravely disappointed by the return to hostilities" and urging the sides not to allow matters to escalate.

The Guardian

Zarqawi wanted a 9/11 moment to escalate the conflict – something that would take the fight to the heart of the enemy, Abu Ahmed recalled.

The Guardian

Wam's power is extremely limited: it in effect has a hotline to Twitter, to escalate complaints that it has verified; it will also compile statistics on how well the service is handling them.

The Guardian - Opinion

In hindsight, her vulnerability meant she was the perfect first victim for a serial killer whose audacity would escalate with each strike.

The Guardian

Q: I have a complaint about moderation, how do I escalate it?

The Guardian

The movement took a violent turn on Sunday night, when police used water cannon, batons and pepper spray to thwart demonstrators' attempts to "escalate" the movement by surrounding government offices.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "escalate" in technical support contexts, clarify that you mean transferring an issue to a higher authority to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "escalate" when a more neutral term like "increase" or "expand" would be more appropriate. "Escalate" often implies a negative or problematic situation becoming more severe.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "escalate" is as a verb, describing the act of increasing in intensity or severity. This aligns with Ludwig's examples where "escalate" is used to depict conflicts and problems becoming more serious.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "escalate" is a versatile verb commonly used to describe the increasing intensity or severity of a situation, often with negative connotations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While synonyms like "intensify" and "step up" exist, "escalate" specifically implies a problematic or critical situation becoming more pronounced. Remember to reserve "escalate" for contexts where a negative increase is intended, avoiding its overuse in neutral situations where a term like "increase" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intensify

Focuses on making something stronger or more extreme.

step up

Emphasizes increasing the pace or intensity of an activity.

aggravate

Highlights making a situation worse or more serious.

exacerbate

Stresses the worsening of an already negative situation.

heighten

Indicates an increase in the level or degree of something.

amplify

Suggests increasing the volume or impact of something.

build up

Implies a gradual increase in quantity or intensity.

mount

Indicates a gradual rise in level or intensity.

mushroom

Describes a rapid growth or increase.

snowball

Suggests an increase in size or intensity as if rolling a snowball.

FAQs

How can I use "escalate" in a sentence?

You can use "escalate" to describe how a situation intensifies. For instance, "The conflict began to "escalate" after the initial attack".

What are some synonyms for "escalate"?

Alternatives to "escalate" include "intensify", "step up", and "aggravate", each carrying slightly different nuances.

Is it always negative when a situation escalates?

Yes, "escalate" typically implies a worsening or intensification of a negative situation, such as conflict or a problem. It's rarely used in a positive context.

How does "escalate" differ from "increase"?

"Increase" is a general term for making something larger, while "escalate" implies a more rapid and often negative increase in intensity or severity. Using "increase" is more neutral and doesn't suggest a problem.