escalation
gb/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən/ us/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
eszkaláció, fokozódás, súlyosbodás, magasabb szintre emelés, eszkalált ügy
NOUN
C1
1
Usage pattern:
[an] escalation in [something]; the escalation of [something]
The government called for talks to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
A kormány tárgyalásokat sürgetett, hogy megakadályozza a konfliktus további eszkalációját.
A small argument led to a rapid escalation in violence.
Egy kisebb vita az erőszak gyors fokozódásához vezetett.
The project was delayed by supply problems and cost escalation.
Learner examples
We need to stop the escalation of the problem.
Meg kell állítanunk a probléma súlyosbodását.
There was an escalation in prices last month.
Múlt hónapban áremelkedés volt.
Common mistake:
Escalation often suggests a serious or unwanted increase; use increase for neutral everyday amounts.
Meaning
increase in seriousness
Collocations
rapid escalation
|dramatic escalation
|further escalation
|military escalation
|nuclear escalation
|conflict escalation
|escalation of violence
|cost escalation
|price escalation
|risk of escalation
Synonyms
intensification (very close in meaning, often slightly more formal)
|
increase (broader and more neutral; does not always suggest danger or seriousness)
|
worsening (emphasizes that a situation is becoming worse)
Antonyms
de-escalation (a reduction in intensity, danger, or seriousness)
|
easing (a lessening of pressure, tension, or severity)
|
reduction (a general decrease in amount, level, or scale)
Themes
conflict
|business
|politics
|risk
|prices
Definition
a situation where something becomes bigger, worse, or more serious
the process or fact of becoming greater, worse, more serious, or more intense, especially in a conflict, problem, cost, or risk.
NOUN
C1
BUSINESS
2
Usage pattern:
escalation to [someone/a team]; escalation of [an issue]; [an issue] requires escalation
If the agent cannot fix the problem, the ticket is marked for escalation to a senior technician.
Ha az ügyintéző nem tudja megoldani a problémát, a jegyet egy vezető technikushoz továbbítják.
The policy explains when escalation to management is required.
A szabályzat ismerteti, mikor szükséges az ügy vezetői szintre emelése.
Please document your attempts to resolve the complaint before escalation.
Learner examples
This problem needs escalation to a manager.
Ezt a problémát egy vezetőhöz kell továbbítani.
The support team has an escalation process.
Az ügyfélszolgálati csapatnak van egy eszkalációs folyamata.
Common mistake:
In this sense, escalation does not mean making the problem worse; it means moving it to a higher level.
Meaning
raising to higher authority
Collocations
issue escalation
|complaint escalation
|customer escalation
|support escalation
|technical escalation
|formal escalation
|immediate escalation
|escalation process
|escalation procedure
|escalation path
Synonyms
referral (sending a matter to another person or group for action)
|
handover (transfer of responsibility, often less formal)
|
elevation (raising something to a higher level; less common in this business sense)
Antonyms
resolution (solving the issue instead of passing it upward)
|
closure (ending the case or complaint rather than escalating it)
|
local handling (dealing with the issue at the current level)
Themes
business
|customer_service
|workplace
|technology
|management
Definition
passing a problem to a manager or specialist because it cannot be solved at the current level
the act or process of sending a problem, complaint, or decision to someone with more authority, expertise, or responsibility.
NOUN
C1
BUSINESS
3
eszkaláció
C1
Usage pattern:
an escalation; a customer/client escalation; handle/manage/resolve [an escalation]
She spends most mornings reviewing open escalations from key customers.
A délelőttjei nagy részét a kiemelt ügyfelektől érkező, még nyitott eszkalált ügyek áttekintésével tölti.
The team created a dashboard to track high-priority escalations.
A csapat létrehozott egy irányítópultot a magas prioritású eszkalált ügyek nyomon követésére.
By Friday, all critical escalations had been assigned to senior engineers.
Learner examples
We have three escalations today.
Ma három eszkalált ügyünk van.
A senior engineer is handling the escalation.
Az eszkalált ügyet egy vezető mérnök kezeli.
Common mistake:
This use is mainly workplace or customer-support jargon; in general English, problem, complaint, or case may sound more natural.
Meaning
urgent referred case
Collocations
customer escalation
|client escalation
|open escalation
|urgent escalation
|priority escalation
|new escalation
|handle an escalation
|manage escalations
|resolve an escalation
|escalation owner
Synonyms
escalated issue (clearer and less jargon-like)
|
urgent case (emphasizes priority, not necessarily referral upward)
|
complaint (broader; may or may not have been escalated)
Antonyms
routine ticket (a normal support case that has not been escalated)
|
standard request (a non-urgent request handled through ordinary channels)
|
resolved case (a case that has already been dealt with)
Themes
business
|customer_service
|technology
|workplace
Definition
a problem or complaint that has been sent to a higher-level person or team
a problem, complaint, or support case that has been escalated to a higher level of authority or expertise.
Grammar
Dictionary form
escalation
IPA
GB/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən/
US/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
es - cal - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: escalation
- Plural: escalation, escalations
Expressions
escalation clause
1/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən klˈɔz/
fixed phrase
legal
automatic increase contract term
a part of a contract that says a payment or price can go up in certain situations
Examples
- The lease included an escalation clause tied to annual inflation.
- The buyer used an escalation clause to beat competing offers up to a fixed maximum.
- Before signing, check how the escalation clause calculates future increases.
Learner examples
- The contract has an escalation clause.
- The rent may rise because of the escalation clause.
escalation matrix
1/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən mˈeɪtɹɪks/
fixed phrase
business
issue-routing contact chart
a table that shows who to contact next when a problem is not solved
Examples
- The project manager updated the escalation matrix after the reorganization.
- Use the escalation matrix if a production incident is not acknowledged within fifteen minutes.
- The new vendor contract includes an escalation matrix with names, phone numbers, and response times.
Learner examples
- The escalation matrix shows who to call next.
- We need to update the escalation matrix.
escalation of commitment
1/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən əv kəmˈɪtmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
continuing a failing choice
continuing with a bad plan because you have already spent a lot on it
Examples
- Managers sometimes fall into escalation of commitment and fund a project long after it should be cancelled.
- To avoid escalation of commitment, the board asked an independent team to review the failed strategy.
- The company set a strict loss limit before escalation of commitment could take over.
Learner examples
- He kept paying for the bad plan because of escalation of commitment.
escalation path
1/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən pˈæθ/
fixed phrase
business
route to higher support
the order of people or teams to contact when a problem is not solved
Examples
- The support manual gives a clear escalation path for urgent outages.
- If the supplier misses another deadline, we need to follow the escalation path.
- The contract names the account director as the final step in the escalation path.
Learner examples
- Ask your manager about the escalation path.
- The team needs a clear escalation path.
escalation point
1/ˌɛskəlˈeɪʃən pˈɔɪnt/
fixed phrase
business
contact for higher-level help
the person or team you contact when a problem must be sent higher up
Examples
- For billing disputes, the regional finance manager is the escalation point.
- The client asked for a named escalation point before renewing the service contract.
- If the help desk cannot respond in time, use the on-call engineer as the escalation point.
Learner examples
- Who is the escalation point for this issue?
- My manager is the escalation point.