panic
noun
a sudden overwhelming fear, with or without cause, that produces hysterical or irrational behavior, and that often spreads quickly through a group of persons or animals.
panicking
-
present participleof panic.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The kind of person who misses a flight and, instead of panicking, calmly adapts to the situation. This person may still feel stressed, but they're better able to manage it through psychological flexibility."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026
Even the options market, which is inherently more aggressive and forward-looking than the equity market, isn’t panicking either.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
The raw emotion of a panicking mother was clear as she desperately pleaded for help to find her only son.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
“I’ve been saying ‘bond traders can stop panicking when the Fed starts panicking,’” said Jim Bianco, president at Bianco Research.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Dalio, not panicking, said, “Bro, we have got to get back to campus, now.”
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
