escalate
verb/ˈɛskəleɪt/
Frequency rank: #9,048 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)
Meaning
to increase or develop rapidly, often becoming more serious or intense.
Example sentence
If we do not resolve this issue quickly, it could escalate into a much bigger problem.
Synonyms & related words
More words in ranks 9,001–9,100
- crackdowna series of severe measures taken to restrict or punish certain activities or people.
- crazea short-lived but intense enthusiasm or fashion; a fad.
- cupcakea small individual cake baked in a cup-shaped mold.
- delia shop that sells cooked meats, cheeses, and prepared foods.
- enamelThe hard, shiny outer coating that protects the surface of teeth, or a type of glassy paint used on metal and ceramics.
- exceedinglyto a very great degree; extremely.
- excessivelyto a degree that is too much or beyond what is reasonable.
- farmlandLand used for farming or agricultural purposes.
- fiercelyin an intensely aggressive or passionate manner
- fourteenthThe ordinal number matching position 14 in a sequence.