escalate
escalate Lexical Profile
escalate Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To become or cause to become more intense, serious, or severe, especially regarding a conflict, dispute, or crisis.
"A minor disagreement over the project timeline quickly escalated into a heated debate."
To increase rapidly in amount, volume, or cost.
"Housing prices in the metropolitan area have escalated dramatically over the past decade."
To refer or transfer an issue, complaint, or task to a higher level of authority or expertise for resolution.
"If the customer service representative cannot resolve the billing error, she will escalate the ticket to a supervisor."
• Rhymes for escalate
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century as a back-formation from "escalator," itself derived from "escalade" (scaling walls with ladders), from French and ultimately Latin scala, meaning "ladder."