Parrivo word videos
Escalate: meaning and sentence examples
escalate means to become, or make something, more serious or intense. Watch the story, then try free practice below.
Read the story
I chose A.
I chose B.
No—A is obviously better.
Stop interrupting me!
Whoa. This is escalating.
Escalate means become more serious or intense.
Let's calm it down.
Uh-oh.
Words change everything.
Explore the word · verb
What does escalate mean?
to become, or make something, more serious or intense.
How the story shows the meaning
The characters begin by choosing different answers. The conversation becomes more intense when they insist and interrupt. That increase in tension is what makes it an escalation.
escalate in a sentence
- A quiet disagreement can escalate into a loud argument if no one listens.
- The problem escalated when the small leak spread to a second room.
- Adding threats would escalate the conflict instead of helping solve it.
Escalate involves an increase in intensity, seriousness, or scale. A situation simply changing is not enough. De-escalate means to reduce that intensity.
Check your understanding
Read the answer and explanation
A calm discussion turns into shouting and threats. Correct. The disagreement becomes more serious and intense.
Try two more questions
Explain your thinking, then open a sample answer. These are extra practice examples to use after watching.
1. Name one action that might help de-escalate the argument in the video.
Show sample answer
They could pause, stop interrupting, and listen to each reason. This may reduce tension, though it does not guarantee agreement.
2. Use escalated to describe a problem outside a conversation.
Show sample answer
One possible answer is “The delay escalated into a major problem when several connecting trains were canceled.” Explain what made the problem more serious.
Companion lesson by Parrivo · Updated