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.
was panicking
-
past progressiveof panic.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
His tone remained polite, but he was panicking.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
"If I came out and she was panicking I would have been under the pump."
From BBC ● May 10, 2026
"I couldn't get through. So because I couldn't get through and the bailiff was on the way, I was panicking even more."
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2025
She was panicking because she was aware, even at her tender age, that she was “poor and shall stand in need of something to gain support.”
From Slate ● Nov. 20, 2024
I thought she was panicking, changing her mind about seeing the cells.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
