if fighting, violence, or a bad situation escalates, or if someone escalates it, it becomes much worse

（使）〔战斗、暴力或不好的情况〕升级; （使）恶化:

Her fear was escalating into panic.

她的害怕逐渐变成了惊慌。

The fighting on the border is escalating.

边境地区的战斗在不断升级。

We do not want to escalate the war.

我们不想让战争升级。

to become higher or increase, or to make something do this

（使）升高; （使）增加:

The costs were escalating alarmingly.

成本在以惊人的速度增长。

policies that escalate their own costs

促使他们自身成本增加的政策

escalating crime

愈演愈烈的犯罪活动

the escalation of fighting in June

六月份战事的升级

a rapid escalation in value

价值的快速上升