escalate
ES-kuh-leyt
/ˈɛskəleɪt/
To increase rapidly; to refer a matter to a higher authority or level.
In customer service, this means moving a complaint from a regular clerk to a manager.
The story behind the word. This word was actually back-formed from 'escalator' (the moving staircase). It comes from the Latin 'scala,' meaning ladder. You are climbing the ladder of authority.
Word relationships
- intensify: Intensify means to make stronger; escalate specifically implies moving up a hierarchy.
- de-escalate: To reduce the intensity or level of a conflict.
Commonly confused with
- elevate: Elevate is to physically lift; escalate is to increase in intensity or rank.
Word family
- escalation (noun): the act of increasing or referring higher
Collocations
- escalate a complaint
- escalate the situation
- escalation process
Example sentences
- "If the clerk cannot help you, you should ask to escalate the call to a supervisor." Customer service protocol.
Memory hook
ESCALATE is like an ESCALATOR—it takes you to the next floor (the manager). Move up the ladder.
When not to use
Do not use if you are simply continuing the conversation at the same level.
Fun facts
- Before 1900, 'escalate' didn't exist in English; it was created because people needed a verb for what an escalator does.
Related words
Explore more words
de-escalate, step up, incremental, accelerate, gradual, advance
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