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Definition of escalate verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

 

escalate

 verb
verb
NAmE//ˈɛskəˌleɪt//
 
[intransitive, transitive]Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they escalate
 
he / she / it escalates
 
past simple escalated
 
-ing form escalating
 
 
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to become or make something greater, worse, more serious, etc. escalate (into something) The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. the escalating costs of health care escalate something (into something) We do not want to escalate the war.
escalation
 
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NAmE//ˌɛskəˈleɪʃn//
 
noun [countable, uncountable] an escalation in food prices further escalation of the conflictSee escalate in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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