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.
had panicked
-
past perfectof panic.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
At the time of the incident, one affected user, Asha, said she had panicked after seeing unknown transactions on her app - especially as their figures appeared to match the totals of her back account.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026
During the trial last month, prosecutors told the jury that Sanchez had panicked in the Costco and fabricated a narrative to avoid criminal charges, the Southern California News Group reported.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 19, 2024
Residents in Padang, a city on the west coast of Sumatra, said they had panicked as tsunami warning sirens wailed and forced evacuation to higher ground in the middle of the night.
From Reuters ● Apr. 25, 2023
When the oil stopped producing a while, he had panicked, bought some oil, and stored it in the garage.
From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2020
I opened the flap with great apprehension, sure that my bat had panicked and flown away.”
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
