panic
1 Americannoun
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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.
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an instance, outbreak, or period of such fear.
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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.
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Slang. someone or something that is considered hilariously funny.
The comedian was an absolute panic.
adjective
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of the nature of, caused by, or indicating panic.
A wave of panic buying shook the stock market.
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(of fear, terror, etc.) suddenly destroying the self-control and impelling to some frantic action.
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Panic, of or relating to the god Pan.
verb (used with object)
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to affect with panic; terrify and cause to flee or lose self-control.
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Slang. to keep (an audience or the like) highly amused.
verb (used without object)
noun
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Also called panic grass. any grass of the genus Panicum, many species of which bear edible grain.
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the grain.
noun
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a sudden overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety, esp one affecting a whole group of people
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(modifier) of or resulting from such terror
panic measures
verb
adjective
Related Words
See terror.
Other Word Forms
- panicky adjective
- unpanicky adjective
Etymology
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”
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.
According to the government, the supply of oil to the UK remains healthy in spite of the conflict and stressed that panic buying was not necessary.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
In recent days, hundreds have reported being out of at least one type of fuel, which officials have chalked up to panic buying.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
The Bruins didn’t even panic when their leader seemed to panic, as Betts spent nearly half of the first quarter on the bench complaining that, “I’ve got something stuck in my throat.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
The announcement immediately triggered a global stock market panic, resulting in the largest decline since 2020, when the stock market crashed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
He scanned the churning water for Nicole’s light and began to panic when he didn’t see it.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
