Cries, moans, escalating gradually but steadily into ragged shards of noise that could only be human voices in distress.

In late May, the conflict gradually escalated to exchanges of mortar fire.

The situation gradually escalated until the Revolutions of 1848 saw the fall of the monarchy and the creation of the Second Republic.

The violence gradually escalated, with union workers on one side and non-union workers and police on the other.

The altitude of the hills gradually escalates above 800 meters and culminates with Ještěd (1012 m).

The conflict in Israel, initially confined to insulting posters, gradually escalated to a series of particularly offensive pranks and, ultimately, physically violent clashes between followers.

Rolling Thunder gradually escalated in intensity, with aircraft striking only carefully selected targets.

The controversy gradually escalated into a general debate over the values of the Enlightenment and the value of reason itself.

The made-up story of Sybil's illness gradually escalates as Basil describes what sound like horrific symptoms.

The scuffle gradually escalates into a fight between Sun and Quanzhen members.