panic
1a 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.
an instance, outbreak, or period of such fear.
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.
Slang. someone or something that is considered hilariously funny: The comedian was an absolute panic.
of the nature of, caused by, or indicating panic: A wave of panic buying shook the stock market.
(of fear, terror, etc.) suddenly destroying the self-control and impelling to some frantic action.
Panic, of or relating to the god Pan.
to affect with panic; terrify and cause to flee or lose self-control.
Slang. to keep (an audience or the like) highly amused.
to be stricken with panic; become frantic with fear: The herd panicked and stampeded.
Origin of panic
1synonym study For panic
Other words for panic
Other words from panic
- pan·ick·y, adjective
- un·pan·ick·y, adjective
Other definitions for panic (2 of 2)
Also called panic grass . any grass of the genus Panicum, many species of which bear edible grain.
the grain.
Origin of panic
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for panic (1 of 2)
/ (ˈpænɪk) /
a sudden overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety, esp one affecting a whole group of people
(modifier) of or resulting from such terror: panic measures
to feel or cause to feel panic
Origin of panic
1Derived forms of panic
- panicky, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Panic (2 of 2)
/ (ˈpænɪk) /
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with panic
see push the panic button.
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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