# escalate vs excavate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### escalate
*verb · IPA /ˈɛs.kə.leɪt/ · frequency rank #18,302*
To increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up.

### excavate
*verb · IPA /ˈɛk.skə.veɪt/ · frequency rank #43,632*
To make a hole in (something); to hollow.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/escalate-vs-excavate