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panic
1[ pan-ik ]
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.
- an instance, outbreak, or period of such fear.
- 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.
- Slang. someone or something that is considered hilariously funny:
The comedian was an absolute panic.
adjective
- of the nature of, caused by, or indicating panic:
A wave of panic buying shook the stock market.
- (of fear, terror, etc.) suddenly destroying the self-control and impelling to some frantic action.
- Panic, of or relating to the god Pan.
verb (used with object)
- to affect with panic; terrify and cause to flee or lose self-control.
- Slang. to keep (an audience or the like) highly amused.
verb (used without object)
- to be stricken with panic; become frantic with fear:
The herd panicked and stampeded.
panic
2[ pan-ik ]
noun
- Also called panic grass. any grass of the genus Panicum, many species of which bear edible grain.
- the grain.
panic
1/ ˈpænɪk /
noun
- a sudden overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety, esp one affecting a whole group of people
- modifier of or resulting from such terror
panic measures
verb
- to feel or cause to feel panic
Panic
2/ ˈpænɪk /
adjective
- of or relating to the god Pan
Derived Forms
- ˈpanicky, adjective
Other Words From
- panick·y adjective
- un·panick·y adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of panic1
Origin of panic2
Word History and Origins
Origin of panic1
Idioms and Phrases
see push the panic button .Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Don’t panic and make big investment decisions right now, because whatever might change in the next few years will likely recover over time.
But in between smiles, their faces slip into mask-like panic, with eyes that are dead.
He averages about three hours of sleep a night and took anti-anxiety medication to try keep his regular panic attacks under control, he said.
Industry experts have told the BBC spray foam is an effective insulator if fitted properly, and urgent action is needed to stop panicked homeowners needlessly turning to "cowboy" removal companies.
When Ahn first heard the news, she admitted “a sense of panic took over”.
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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.
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