verb
1 become/make sth worse
ADVERB
▪ quickly , rapidly
▪ gradually , steadily
▪
Violence between the two sides has been steadily escalating.
▪
The risks gradually ~.
▪ suddenly
PREPOSITION
▪ into
▪
The conflict could ~ rapidly into a full-scale war.
▪ to
▪
a small local disagreement that ~s to civil war
2 increase
ADVERB
▪ dramatically
▪
Prices had recently ~d dramatically.
▪ sharply
▪
The cost of raw materials has ~d sharply.
PREPOSITION
▪ to
▪
The budget ~d to £32 million.
Escalate is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑ conflict , ↑ cost , ↑ dispute , ↑ situation , ↑ violence , ↑ war