panic

[ pan-ik ]

/ ˈpæn ɪk /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: panic / panicked / panicking / panicky on Thesaurus.com

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), pan·icked, pan·ick·ing.

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), pan·icked, pan·ick·ing.

to be stricken with panic; become frantic with fear: The herd panicked and stampeded.

OTHER WORDS FOR panic

1 alarm, fear.

See synonyms for panic on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of panic

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

synonym study for panic

1. See terror.

OTHER WORDS FROM panic

pan·ick·y, adjectiveun·pan·ick·y, adjective

Words nearby panic

panhead, Panhellenic, Panhellenism, panhoss, panhuman, panic, panic attack, panic bar, panic bolt, panic button, panic buying

Other definitions for panic (2 of 2)

panic²

[ pan-ik ]

/ ˈpæn ɪk /

noun

Also called panic grass . any grass of the genus Panicum, many species of which bear edible grain.

the grain.

Origin of panic

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use panic in a sentence

If the panic was back with fresh branding as QAnon, it had a new ally in Facebook.
Evangelicals are looking for answers online. They’re finding QAnon instead.|Abby Ohlheiser|August 26, 2020|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.
OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder on launching a hemp-infused sparkling water brand|Rachel King|August 24, 2020|Fortune
His parents panicked, fearing he had been kidnapped, or worse.
An Unlikely Esports Star Emerges From Pakistan|Daniel Malloy|August 21, 2020|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.
Marketing strategies during COVID-19 times|Evelina Brown|July 13, 2020|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.
How Twitter is contributing to support masses during the Coronavirus outbreak|Harry Liam|May 22, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Just two young kids experiencing the panic, pain, and then the miracle, of new birth.
Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It.|Gene Robinson|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hence, I suspect, the panic, the lockdown, the capitulation.
Pyongyang Shuffle: Hollywood In Dead Panic Over Sony Hack|James Poulos|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Someone was sure to capitalize on the Ebola panic, and Dr. Joseph Alton is that guy.
The Sham, Scaremongering Guide to Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In one sentence, he asserts: “Panic is worse than complacency.”
The Sham, Scaremongering Guide to Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Panic—and the inevitable panicking about the panic—is counterproductive.
Fighting Ebola and Starvation in Sierra Leone|Abby Haglage|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We stood staring after the fugitives in perfect bewilderment, totally unable to explain their apparently causeless panic.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Two artillery subalterns who had fought their way through a mob stricken with panic for the moment, soon arrived.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
He was naturally frightfully upset about it, and a regular panic sprang up in the neighbourhood.
Uncanny Tales|Various
She should not show panic because of the mysterious noise in the loft of the abandoned Carter house.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
General Wheatonʼs brigade captured Malinta, and the insurgents fled panic-stricken after having suffered severely.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for panic (1 of 2)

panic

/ (ˈpænɪk) /

noun

a sudden overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety, esp one affecting a whole group of people

(modifier) of or resulting from such terrorpanic measures

verb -ics, -icking or -icked

to feel or cause to feel panic

Derived forms of panic

panicky, adjective

Word Origin for panic

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

British Dictionary definitions for panic (2 of 2)

Panic

/ (ˈpænɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to the god Pan

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with panic

panic

see push the panic button.

panic

OTHER WORDS FOR panic

Origin of panic

synonym study for panic

OTHER WORDS FROM panic

Words nearby panic

Other definitions for panic (2 of 2)

Origin of panic

Words related to panic

How to use panic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for panic (1 of 2)

Derived forms of panic

Word Origin for panic

British Dictionary definitions for panic (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with panic