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View synonyms for

panic

1

[ pan-ik ]

noun

  1. 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.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. an instance, outbreak, or period of such fear.
  3. 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.
  4. Slang. someone or something that is considered hilariously funny:

    The comedian was an absolute panic.



adjective

  1. of the nature of, caused by, or indicating panic:

    A wave of panic buying shook the stock market.

  2. (of fear, terror, etc.) suddenly destroying the self-control and impelling to some frantic action.
  3. Panic, of or relating to the god Pan.

verb (used with object)

panicked, panicking.
  1. to affect with panic; terrify and cause to flee or lose self-control.
  2. Slang. to keep (an audience or the like) highly amused.

verb (used without object)

panicked, panicking.
  1. to be stricken with panic; become frantic with fear:

    The herd panicked and stampeded.

panic

2

[ pan-ik ]

noun

  1. Also called panic grass. any grass of the genus Panicum, many species of which bear edible grain.
  2. the grain.

panic

1

/ ˈæɪ /

noun

  1. a sudden overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety, esp one affecting a whole group of people
  2. modifier of or resulting from such terror

    panic measures

“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

verb

  1. to feel or cause to feel panic
“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

Panic

2

/ ˈæɪ /

adjective

  1. 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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ貹Ծ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • 貹i· adjective
  • un·貹i· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of panic1

First recorded in 1580–90; earlier panique, from French, from Greek ʲԾó “of Pan”; Pan, -ic

Origin of panic2

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English panik, from Latin Ծܳ “Italian millet”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of panic1

C17: from French panique, from New Latin Ծܲ, from Greek panikos emanating from Pan , considered as the source of irrational fear
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Idioms and Phrases

see push the panic button .
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Synonym Study

See terror.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"It was instant panic from all the neighbours, everyone was running around in the street," Mr Cainey continued.

From

At a "selfie point" outside town, overlooking lush meadows and a rushing river, Akshay Solanki, a tourist from Mumbai, said there was "panic" among his group of travellers on the day of the attack.

From

According to The New York Times, the "panic industry" — consisting of at-home bunkers, hidden shooting ranges and more protective real estate renovations — has been booming in response to growing global uncertainties.

From

As panic spread earlier in the day, residents of Madrid were warned to stay off the roads.

From

She said the couple were in state of panic, shock and disbelief on realising the child had died.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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