escalate
gb/ˈɛskəlˌeɪt/ us/ˈɛskəlˌeɪt/
B2
English
~ 7700
elmérgesedik, elfajul, fokozódik, emelkedik, megugrik, növekszik, magasabb szintre továbbít, eszkalál, feljebb visz
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] escalates / to escalate [a situation/problem/conflict]
The argument escalated after both sides refused to compromise.
Miután egyik fél sem volt hajlandó kompromisszumot kötni, a vita elmérgesedett.
Police were called in when the protest began to escalate into violence.
Rendőröket hívtak, amikor a tüntetés kezdett erőszakba fajulni.
If we shout back, it will only escalate the situation.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent months.
What started as a small disagreement quickly escalated into a major conflict.
Learner examples
The fight escalated when one man pushed the other.
Az összetűzés elmérgesedett, amikor az egyik férfi meglökte a másikat.
Her anger escalated when she heard the news.
Még dühösebb lett, amikor meghallotta a hírt.
The problem will escalate if we do nothing.
They did not want the conflict to escalate.
The situation escalated after he sent a rude email.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "escalate" only for physical movement (because of the word "escalator"). In modern English, "escalate" is not used to mean "go up" physically; it is used mainly for conflicts, problems, and similar situations becoming more serious.
Meaning
become or make more serious
Collocations
escalate a conflict
|escalate tensions
|escalate violence
|escalate the situation
|escalate quickly
|escalate further
Synonyms
intensify (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and general, while "escalate" is especially common for conflicts and problems becoming more serious.)
Antonyms
de-escalate (Means to reduce the intensity or seriousness of a conflict or situation, the direct opposite of escalating it.)
Themes
conflict
|emotions
|society
|work
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To become, or make something, more serious or more dangerous, especially when a conflict or problem grows worse.
To become or cause something to become more serious, intense, or difficult, especially a conflict, argument, or problem.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[costs/prices/figures] escalate / escalating [costs/prices]
Healthcare costs continue to escalate each year.
Az egészségügyi költségek évről évre tovább emelkednek.
Housing prices have escalated dramatically in the city.
A lakásárak drámai mértékben emelkedtek a városban.
The company is worried about escalating wage demands.
Tension in the region has led to escalating military spending.
As demand escalated, the factory struggled to keep up.
Learner examples
Food prices are escalating this year.
Idén folyamatosan emelkednek az élelmiszerárak.
The rent has escalated since last summer.
A bérleti díj tavaly nyár óta megemelkedett.
Their costs escalated after the new law.
Demand for the product escalated during the holiday season.
The price of oil escalated in a short time.
Common mistake:
Learners may use "escalate" for any small or normal increase. In everyday speech, "escalate" usually suggests a strong, rapid, or worrying rise, not a small, ordinary one.
Meaning
increase rapidly in size or cost
Collocations
escalating costs
|escalating prices
|escalating demand
|escalating expenses
|escalating inflation
|escalating growth
Synonyms
rise (A more general and common word for going up; "escalate" suggests a faster or more worrying increase.)
Antonyms
stabilize (Means to stop changing and stay at the same level, the opposite of continuing to escalate.)
Themes
business
|economy
|numbers
|society
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go up fast in number, price, or level.
To increase or grow rapidly in amount, price, rate, or extent.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to escalate [an issue/problem/complaint] (to [someone/department])
If the problem is not fixed within 24 hours, please escalate the issue to your manager.
Ha a problémát 24 órán belül nem sikerül megoldani, kérjük, továbbítsa az ügyet a vezetőjének.
The customer asked to escalate her complaint to a higher level of support.
Az ügyfél kérte, hogy a panaszát továbbítsák egy magasabb szintű ügyfélszolgálathoz.
We had to escalate the case to the legal department for further review.
Support staff are trained to escalate security incidents immediately.
He refused to escalate the matter, hoping it could be solved informally.
Learner examples
I will escalate this issue to my boss.
Továbbítom ezt az ügyet a főnökömnek.
The help desk decided to escalate my problem to a specialist.
Az ügyfélszolgálat úgy döntött, hogy a problémámat szakemberhez továbbítja.
She escalated the complaint to the manager.
If you cannot solve it, please escalate the case.
They escalated the ticket to the technical team.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with simply "make bigger". In business and tech contexts, "escalate" usually means sending a problem to a higher person or team, not just making the problem worse.
Meaning
pass an issue to higher authority
Collocations
escalate the issue
|escalate a complaint
|escalate a problem
|escalate to management
|escalate to support
|escalate to a supervisor
Synonyms
refer (More general and neutral; does not always imply urgency or a higher authority, while "escalate" suggests moving a problem upward because it is serious or unresolved.)
Antonyms
resolve (Means to successfully deal with a problem at the current level instead of passing it up the chain.)
Themes
work
|business
|communication
|technology
Definition
To send a problem to a manager or higher person so they can decide or help.
In an organization, to officially refer a problem, complaint, or decision to someone at a higher level of authority.
Grammar
Dictionary form
escalate
IPA
GB/ˈɛskəlˌeɪt/
US/ˈɛskəlˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
es - cal - ate (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (es)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: escalate
- 3rd Person Singular: escalates
- Present Participle: escalating
- Past: escalated
Word family
Forms
escalates
verb
escalating
verb
escalated
verb
Core family
escalation
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
de-escalate
verb
de-escalation
noun
Advanced or less common
escalatory
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.