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.
have panicked
-
present perfectof panic.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Investors have panicked in part because warnings from Zions and Western Alliance are a reminder of the 2023 collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2025
“In the past sometimes we have panicked with the pairings and switched everything up, and it hasn’t worked out,” Bradley said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2025
With the Italian fans cheering and chanting, she could have panicked.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2024
“Earlier in the season, we might have panicked and lost our composure,” Valencia said.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 1, 2022
Like her I would have panicked, like her I would not have told Josef, like her I would not have known where to go.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
