51Թ

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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 51Թ Forms

  • 貹i· adjective
  • un·貹i· adjective
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51Թ 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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51Թ 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.

And it is difficult to ignore the investor panic, tumbling bond market and growing public disapproval that preceded the announcement.

From

"Dust and massive destruction filled the entire place, we couldn't see anything, just the screams and panic of the people," he added.

From

I am personally drawn to the most anxious among the herd — Cowboy — a crossbreed who holds his head in rigid panic, hair long and straight as a Long Beach girl’s.

From

“I hope that customers don’t go into panic mode because that hurts everybody,” Tang said.

From

Unlike China, which has hit back with its own levies, the official message from governments in South East Asia, is don't panic, don't retaliate, but negotiate.

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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