panic
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.
panicked
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past participleof panic.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof panic.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
panicnouna 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.
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.
Santa Rosa resident Chara Brazley said she received a panicked call from her 24-year-old daughter who works at Ulta Beauty at the shopping center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
Rachel immediately felt "very panicked and afraid and upset" and says she started to cry.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
When Miller saw a comment from actor Antonio Cipriano, saying he "needed this song", he sent him a message suggesting he feature on a recording – then "panicked" and added "haha, joking".
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
"There's nothing left. I could only save myself and take my kids with me... I panicked and didn't have the time to grab anything," said Leni, who like many Indonesians has one name.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
They had not looked happy to get the mochigashi; they had looked absolutely panicked, as if somebody might steal the sweets from them.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
