Panic Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Published on October 23, 2025
Panic refers to sudden, uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior. e.g., The crowd began to panic after hearing the alarm.
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Panic Definitions
A widespread fear of financial loss, leading to the sudden selling of assets.
The stock market crash was caused by investor panic.
A psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks.
She was diagnosed with panic disorder last year.
An unrecoverable error in a computer system causing it to halt.
The system experienced a kernel panic and needed to be restarted.
Hasty, uncoordinated decisions or actions in a crisis.
The company's leadership panicked during the scandal, worsening the situation.
A sudden, overpowering feeling of fear, often affecting many people at once.
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A state of extreme anxiety, such as that involved in a panic attack.
A state of frantic activity, usually accompanied by extreme concern or anxiety
The office was in a panic as the deadline approached.
A sudden widespread alarm concerning finances, often resulting in a rush to sell property to raise cash.
(Slang) A person or thing that is considered extremely funny.
Of, relating to, or resulting from sudden, overwhelming terror
Panic flight.
Of or resulting from a financial panic
Panic selling of securities.
Often Panic(Mythology) Of or relating to Pan.
To affect or be affected with panic.
Alternative case form of Panic
(by extension (see the etymology))
Of fear, fright, etc: overwhelming or sudden.
Pertaining to or resulting from overwhelming fear or fright.
(uncountable) Overwhelming fear or fright, often affecting groups of people or animals; (countable) an instance of this; a fright, a scare.
; (by extension) any computer system crash.
A rapid reduction in asset prices due to broad efforts to raise cash in anticipation of such prices continuing to decline.
A highly amusing or entertaining performer, performance, or show; a riot, a scream.
(originally) Foxtail millet or Italian millet (Setaria italica), the second-most widely grown species of millet.
(by extension) A plant of the genus Panicum, or of similar plants of other genera (especially Echinochloa and Setaria) formerly included within Panicum; panicgrass or panic grass.
The edible grain obtained from one of the above plants.
(transitive)
To cause (someone) to feel fright]]; also, to frighten (someone) into acting hastily.
(computing) To cause (a computer system) to crash.
To highly amuse, entertain, or impress (an audience watching a performance or show).
(intransitive)
To feel panic, or overwhelming fear or fright; to freak out, to lose one's head.
(computing) Of a computer system: to crash.
A plant of the genus Panicum; panic grass; also, the edible grain of some species of panic grass.
A sudden, overpowering fright; esp., a sudden and groundless fright; terror inspired by a trifling cause or a misapprehension of danger; as, the troops were seized with a panic; they fled in a panic.
By extension: A sudden widespread fright or apprehension concerning financial affairs.
Extreme or sudden and causeless; unreasonable; - said of fear or fright; as, panic fear, terror, alarm.
An overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
Sudden mass fear and anxiety over anticipated events;
Panic in the stock market
A war scare
A bomb scare led them to evacuate the building
Be overcome by a sudden fear;
The students panicked when told that final exams were less than a week away
Cause sudden fear in or fill with sudden panic;
The mere thought of an isolation cell panicked the prisoners
Sudden overwhelming fear with or without cause.
She felt a wave of panic when she couldn't find her child.
A mass, irrational fear among a group of people.
Panic spread through the audience during the fire alarm.
An intense episode of extreme anxiety or fear.
He experienced a panic attack during the exam.
A sudden fear or anxiety affecting characters in a story.
The novel describes the panic of a city under siege.
A sudden, uncontrollable fear among troops causing disarray.
The unexpected attack caused panic in the ranks.
To be overwhelmed by a sudden fear.
The tourists panicked when they realized they were lost.
Panic Snonyms
Terror
Extreme fear.
The movie was designed to instill terror in its audience.
Alarm
A sudden fear or concern caused by the realization of danger.
The alarm caused by the news was palpable.
Dread
Great fear or apprehension about something.
She felt dread at the thought of speaking in public.
Fright
A sudden intense fear.
The sudden sound in the dark gave her a fright.
Anxiety
A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.
She felt anxiety about the upcoming exam.
Hysteria
Exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement.
The hysteria in the crowd was difficult to control.
Horror
An intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust.
He watched in horror as the events unfolded.
Apprehension
Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
There was a look of apprehension on her face.
Consternation
Feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.
The decision caused consternation among the team.
Trepidation
A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.
He approached the door with trepidation.
Panic Idioms & Phrases
Panic attack
A sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions.
She had a panic attack before the presentation.
Panic button
A metaphorical button one might "press" in a state of panic to seek immediate help.
He hit the panic button after realizing the data was lost.
Panic Example Sentences
The sudden blackout caused a moment of panic among the guests.
He tried to calm his racing heart, telling himself not to panic.
News of the hurricane caused a panic buying of supplies.
The panic attack left her feeling exhausted and scared.
The children started to panic when they couldn't see their parents.
His first instinct was to panic, but he knew he needed to think clearly.
In the midst of panic, she found a way to stay calm.
They trained for moments like this, so they wouldn't panic under pressure.
Panic spread through the crowd as the smoke became visible.
The announcement caused a brief panic, but the situation was quickly resolved.
She had to fight the urge to panic as she got lost in the forest.
The financial markets are in a state of panic.
After the earthquake, there was a sense of panic about aftershocks.
The captain's voice helped to stave off panic among the passengers.
Panic makes it hard to make rational decisions.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in panic?
The first syllable is stressed in "panic."
How is panic used in a sentence?
"Panic" is used to describe a sudden, overwhelming fear: The loud noise caused a panic among the crowd.
How do we divide panic into syllables?
Panic is divided into syllables as: pan-ic.
Why is it called panic?
It's called "panic" from the Greek god Pan, whose sudden appearance was believed to cause terror or panic among people or in solitary places.
How many syllables are in panic?
There are two syllables in "panic."
What is the verb form of panic?
The verb form is "panic" as in "to panic."
What is the pronunciation of panic?
Panic is pronounced as /ˈpæn.ɪk/.
What is the second form of panic?
The second form is "panicked," as in: He panicked when he realized he was locked out.
What is the singular form of panic?
The singular form is "panic."
What is another term for panic?
Another term for "panic" is "alarm."
What is the first form of panic?
The first form is "panic," as in: She tends to panic in stressful situations.
What part of speech is panic?
"Panic" can be a noun or a verb.
Which determiner is used with panic?
Determiners like "a," "the," and "some" can be used with "panic," depending on the context.
What is the root word of panic?
The root word is "Pan," the name of a Greek god associated with sudden fear.
Is panic a noun or adjective?
"Panic" is primarily a noun but can also be used as an adjective, as in "panic reaction."
Is panic a vowel or consonant?
The word "panic" starts with a consonant.
Is the panic term a metaphor?
The term "panic" can be used metaphorically to describe extreme fear or anxiety.
Is the word panic Gerund?
Yes, when used as a verb, "panicking" can be a gerund.
What is the opposite of panic?
The opposite of "panic" is "calmness" or "composure."
Is panic an adverb?
No, "panic" is not an adverb.
Is the word “panic” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Panic" can be a direct object, e.g., "She felt panic."
Which conjunction is used with panic?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "panic" in compound sentences.
What is the third form of panic?
The third form is "panicked," used similarly to the second form.
What is the plural form of panic?
The plural form is "panics."
Is panic a negative or positive word?
"Panic" is a negative word as it describes a state of fear and anxiety.
Is panic a countable noun?
Yes, "panic" can be a countable noun when referring to specific instances of panic.
Is panic a collective noun?
No, "panic" is not typically used as a collective noun.
Which vowel is used before panic?
Vowels such as "a" or "the" can precede "panic" based on sentence construction.
Which preposition is used with panic?
Prepositions like "in" (in a panic) or "of" (panic of the crowd) are commonly used with "panic."
Is panic an abstract noun?
Yes, "panic" is an abstract noun as it describes a concept or state of fear.
Is the word panic imperative?
"Panic" can be used in an imperative form, especially in its verb form, e.g., "Don't panic!"
Which article is used with panic?
The article "the" is used when referring to a specific instance of panic; "a" is used in a more general sense.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
