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)

panicked, panicking 

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)

panicked, panicking 

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

   The herd panicked and stampeded.

panic

²

[pan-ik]

noun

1. Also called panic 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

Other Word Forms

• panicky adjective
• unpanicky 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

He said he grabbed people and told them to leave the station, and tried to assist passengers who he believed were having panic attacks.

Read more on BBC

Witnesses told the BBC of panic and confusion as passengers ran through the carriages, some wounded and bloodied.

Read more on BBC

But there's been a noticeable shift since then - the mood is less panic, more collaboration.

Read more on BBC

But not reintroducing them "would cause panic" among investors, said Ashford, because it would imply that OPEC+ "doesn't see a strong enough market to absorb barrels, which would be seen as bearish".

Read more on Barron's

Once or twice a year, she would panic and ask him to walk her through their finances.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• alarm 
• confusion 
• consternation 
• dismay 
• dread 
• fear 
• frenzy 
• horror 
• hysteria 
• rush 
• scare 
• stampede 
• terror 
• trepidation