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.
panicking
-
present participleof panic.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
When Arsenal confirmed in July that William Saliba would miss an "extended period" with a long-term back issue, you can forgive fans for panicking.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
Despite a few navigation snags, and a run-in with a panicking driver, the journey proved surprisingly mundane.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
"The kind of person who misses a flight and, instead of panicking, calmly adapts to the situation. This person may still feel stressed, but they're better able to manage it through psychological flexibility."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026
Even the options market, which is inherently more aggressive and forward-looking than the equity market, isn’t panicking either.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
I put away the sword and started speaking as calmly as I could so the hippocampi and the cow serpent would stop panicking.
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
