Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

panic buying

British  

noun

  1. the buying up of large quantities of a commodity which, it is feared, is likely to be in short supply

"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

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.

See Examples For:

Egg prices climbed further in 2024 and 2025 while outbreaks continued, prompting panic buying and purchasing limits at supermarkets and egg surcharges at restaurants.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 1, 2026

Egg companies say they were largely unable to keep up with rebuilding their flocks amid ongoing outbreaks, the holiday season and panic buying by retailers, consumers and restaurants eager to secure egg supplies.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 30, 2026

The government maintains that Australia has all the fuel it needs, but panic buying and distribution problems have created regional shortages.

From MarketWatch Apr. 1, 2026

Albanese's government has sought to reassure motorists that shipments of fuel continue to arrive in Australia, and petrol shortages in rural towns stem from panic buying and distribution bottlenecks.

From Barron's Mar. 30, 2026

The minister, Opiyo Wandayi, also urged Kenyans not to engage in panic buying.

From BBC Mar. 26, 2026

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training