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.
"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
Hartnett has often reminded investors of late that markets stop panicking when the Fed starts panicking.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
Loum Tchaouna: The winger provided some threat for Coventry on the wing and his speculative acrobatic effort in the first half had Raya panicking for a second.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
"We were here at home panicking a little, in our bodies, my arms were still shaking," she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
She started panicking and got stressed out because she doesn’t have enough money.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
