Meaning & use

panic

noun·Everyday

A sudden overwhelming feeling of fear or anxiety that makes clear thinking difficult.

See it in a sentence

Panic spread through the crowd when the fire alarm went off during the concert.

She felt a wave of panic when she realized she had left her passport at home.

A note on using this word

Panic can also be a verb, as in 'don't panic,' meaning to suddenly lose the ability to think or act calmly.

Words with a similar meaning

alarmfrightterror

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

calmcomposure

Another way to use it

2. verb

To feel or act with sudden, uncontrollable fear or anxiety.

When the lights went out, some passengers began to panic and rushed for the exits.

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