Definition of "escalate"
escalate
verb
third-person singular simple present escalates, present participle escalating, simple past and past participle escalated
(transitive, intransitive) To increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up.
Quotations
"Operating the WCML at this intensity makes it challenging to maintain acceptable performance levels, resulting in a frustratingly unreliable service for passengers. Minor disruption can escalate into significant delays because a train running only a few minutes late can miss its slot across a junction, resulting in a snowballing effect across the network."
2020 May 6, Philip Haigh, “Just one more stop on the long journey to HS2 fulfillment [sic]”, in Rail, page 65
Quotations
Firms move to higher and higher levels of conflict in each arena, as if they are escalating up a ladder with each rung representing the new level of competition introduced by the last competitive maneuver.
1994, Richard A. D’Aveni, Hypercompetition: Managing the Dynamics of Strategic Maneuvering, The Free Press
For needs of substantial natural resources such as oil, which can guarantee social peace in a majority of oil producing Arab States, Morocco would not be enjoying the position it has now on the international scene, had it not been for the fact that it has escalated the ladder in matters pertaining to democracy and economic liberalization.
2012, Abdelhak Azzouzi, Moroccan Yearbook of Strategy and International Relations 2012, L’Harmattan, page 14
In the eyes of many Americans, the Blacks have been associated with poverty, backwardness and violence, even though many of them have escalated the ladder of success into the Middle Class, having realized the American dream in terms of prosperity, education, jobs, social and political positions and even attained the presidency with Barack Obama (2008-16).
2020, Raphael Israeli, Black Upon White: White Racism and Black Dignity in America: A Comparison with Arabs in Israel, Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co., page 2
I don’t waste any time escalating ladders; / I break their portal chains when invading their forts / And tumble down their walls just like a ram batters / And wrestle their towers, ignoring the blatter / Of the great many folks; they shield from my efforts.
2022, Jean René Bazin PierrePierre, When Hugo Meets Shakespeare, volume 1, Xlibris
Quotations