panic

¹

[ pan-ik ]

noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms: fear, alarm

2. an instance, outbreak, or period of such fear.
3. Finance. a sudden widespread fear concerning financial affairs leading to credit contraction and widespread sale of securities at depressed prices in an effort to acquire cash.
4. Slang. someone or something that is considered hilariously funny:

   The comedian was an absolute panic.

adjective

1. of the nature of, caused by, or indicating panic:

   A wave of panic buying shook the stock market.

2. (of fear, terror, etc.) suddenly destroying the self-control and impelling to some frantic action.
3. Panic, of or relating to the god Pan.

verb (used with object)

, pan·icked, pan·ick·ing.

1. to affect with panic; terrify and cause to flee or lose self-control.
2. Slang. to keep (an audience or the like) highly amused.

verb (used without object)

, pan·icked, pan·ick·ing.

1. to be stricken with panic; become frantic with fear:

   The herd panicked and stampeded.

panic

²

[ pan-ik ]

noun

1. Also called panic grass. any grass of the genus Panicum, many species of which bear edible grain.
2. the grain.

panic

¹

/ ˈpænɪk /

noun

1. a sudden overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety, esp one affecting a whole group of people
2. modifier of or resulting from such terror

   panic measures

verb

1. to feel or cause to feel panic

Panic

²

/ ˈpænɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the god Pan

Derived Forms

• ˈpanicky, adjective

Other Words From

• panick·y adjective
• un·panick·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of panic¹

First recorded in 1580–90; earlier panique, from French, from Greek Panikós “of Pan”; Pan, -ic

Origin of panic²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English panik, from Latin pānicum “Italian millet”

Word History and Origins

Origin of panic¹

C17: from French panique, from New Latin pānicus, from Greek panikos emanating from Pan , considered as the source of irrational fear

Idioms and Phrases

see push the panic button .

Synonym Study

See terror.

Example Sentences

If the panic was back with fresh branding as QAnon, it had a new ally in Facebook.

From MIT Technology Review

I was having panic attacks, heart palpitations, and had developed a major sleeping issue, which ultimately led to me being prescribed Xanax.

From Fortune

His parents panicked, fearing he had been kidnapped, or worse.

From Ozy

I would advise not to stop and not to panic, the situation will somehow be solved and the brand will either resist or not.

From Search Engine Watch

As the platform entertains millions of users, the spread of misinformation was creating panic among the users and misleading them regarding the seriousness of the Pandemic.

From Search Engine Watch

Just two young kids experiencing the panic, pain, and then the miracle, of new birth.

From The Daily Beast

Hence, I suspect, the panic, the lockdown, the capitulation.

From The Daily Beast

Someone was sure to capitalize on the Ebola panic, and Dr. Joseph Alton is that guy.

From The Daily Beast

In one sentence, he asserts: “Panic is worse than complacency.”

From The Daily Beast

Panic—and the inevitable panicking about the panic—is counterproductive.

From The Daily Beast

We stood staring after the fugitives in perfect bewilderment, totally unable to explain their apparently causeless panic.

From Project Gutenberg

Two artillery subalterns who had fought their way through a mob stricken with panic for the moment, soon arrived.

From Project Gutenberg

He was naturally frightfully upset about it, and a regular panic sprang up in the neighbourhood.

From Project Gutenberg

She should not show panic because of the mysterious noise in the loft of the abandoned Carter house.

From Project Gutenberg

General Wheatonʼs brigade captured Malinta, and the insurgents fled panic-stricken after having suffered severely.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lose it
• overreact
• scare