panic

[ pan-ik ]

/ ˈpæn ɪk /

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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

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

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

Retailers and manufacturers say they’re less panicked about widespread shortages now that they’ve spent months simplifying their supply chains, adding shelves and workers to fulfillment centers, and taking other measures to counter panic-buying.
Shoppers are panic-buying toilet paper. This time, there should be enough to go around.|Laura Reiley, Abha Bhattarai|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
All those panicked runners painting their shoes were assuming that the Vaporflys had a big edge—which was probably true before rival carbon-plated shoes emerged, but may no longer be quite as big of a deal.
Seeking the Fastest Shoe in the Post-Vaporfly Era|Alex Hutchinson|November 17, 2020|Outside Online
We can’t panic if we’re not making shots — if I’m not making shots.
Ty Lue Inherited A Kawhi Leonard Problem|James L. Jackson|November 13, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
That said, if you've already got a terabyte of high quality photos and videos stored in Photos, don't panic—the policy change affects new photos and videos created or stored after June 2021 only.
Google Photos is the latest “Unlimited” plan to impose hard limits|Jim Salter|November 11, 2020|Ars Technica

Y2K programmed us to fear that such a stoppage would spark worldwide panic.
Jonathan Lethem’s ‘The Arrest’ imagines a kinder, gentler apocalypse|Ron Charles|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
Panicked, I reached out to hoarding experts, who often refer to any kind of obsessive digital collecting as “infomania.”
I’m a Digital Hoarder|Lizzie Crocker|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The jacket and gloves were a precaution in the event the eaglet panicked, but there was little fuss as he tossed the net over her.
He Faces Jail for Rescuing Baby Eagles|Michael Daly|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At hospitals across the nation, panicked Americans with flu symptoms began convincing themselves they were next.
Ebola Panic Is Worse Than the Disease|Abby Haglage|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then he panicked and took her body somewhere and burnt it on fire!
Deep Thoughts from War Machine's Sexist, Racist Prison Blog|Melissa Leon|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The crowd began to lurch violently, as small motions rippled out into panicked attempts to break away.
The War Inside: Terrorism & Teenhood in ‘No Dawn Without Darkness’|Hugh Ryan|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They, so he said, shot the mayor and an old man of 80 years and another; so if that is true the people just panicked!
Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie|George Brenton Laurie
They panicked, bought flimsy useless contraptions to guard themselves from the fire.
The Jewels of Aptor|Samuel R. Delany
In some ways, all had changed and in some, nothing had; camels still panicked livestock.
Hi Jolly!|James Arthur Kjelgaard
According to her statement, she said after hearing the shots, she panicked, and didn't take any more pictures.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
She says that when she heard the shots, she panicked, and did not take any further pictures.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

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

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