German Conversation · Level 104
57 words
German word
eskalieren
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛskaˈliːʁən/
Meaning
- verbescalate
Example
Die Auseinandersetzung eskalierte schnell.
The dispute escalated rapidly.
More examples
Die Proteste eskalierten schnell in Gewalt.
The protests quickly escalated into violence.
Core concept
A conflict climbs from one level of intensity to the next, making the situation harder to contain.
Common phrases
in Gewalt eskalieren
escalate into violence
ein Streit eskaliert
A dispute escalates
Similar words
sich verschärfen: A situation steadily worsens, increasing in intensity or danger.
sich zuspitzen: A conflict or problem grows more acute as tension builds.
sich aufschaukeln: A small trigger sets off a chain reaction that gradually magnifies the situation.
hochkochen: Strong emotions or a dispute boil over into open, intense conflict.
Definition in German
Sich in Umfang oder Intensität steigern, besonders bezogen auf Konflikte, Spannungen oder Probleme.
Word origin
German "eskalieren" is borrowed from English "escalate", which developed from Latin scala, "ladder", through the idea of rising by stages.
Usage tips
- The common causative pattern is "etwas eskalieren lassen", while "Der Konflikt eskalierte" uses the verb without a direct object.
Other meanings
- worsenverb
- become more severeverb
Related words
- Eskalationescalationnoun
- Eskalationspotenzialescalation potentialnoun