: a sudden unreasoning terror often accompanied by mass flight
widespread panic in the streets
c
: a sudden widespread fright concerning financial affairs that results in a depression of values caused by extreme measures for protection of property (such as securities)
2
dated slang: someone or something that is very funny : riot
Panic comes to us from French panique, which in turn derives from Greek panikos, meaning literally "of Pan." Pan is the pipe-playing, nymph-chasing Greek god of fertility, pastures, flocks, and shepherds. (His name is a Doric contraction of paon, meaning "pasturer.") He also has a rather dark side - his shout is said to have instilled fear in the giants fighting the gods, and the Greeks believed him responsible for causing the Persians to flee in terror at the battle of Marathon. Panic entered our language first as an adjective suggesting the mental or emotional state that Pan was said to induce. The adjective first appeared in print at the beginning of the 17th century, and the noun followed about a century later.
trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.
raised the subject with trepidation
Example Sentences
Noun He was in a panic when he realized how late he was. There's no reason to get into a panic. The villagers fled in panic from the approaching army. The crowd was in a state of panic. She has panic attacks whenever she has to speak in public. Verb If something goes wrong, don't panic. The deer, panicked by the headlights, ran in front of the car. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Cox Medical Center Branson in Missouri acknowledged in September that violence against its workers had tripled over the past year, prompting the facility to give employees panic buttons.Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2022 When it was reported a few hours before Friday's game that Xavier would likely be without several key players, the reaction on social media was largely panic. Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2021 If that happens, the most important thing Marvel can do is not panic. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2021 Hours before the class gathering, Vu texted Karen Blodgett in a semi-panic.oregonlive, 6 July 2020 The disease is spreading quickly; panic spreads quicker. Anastasia Edel, The New York Review of Books, 22 Mar. 2020 And the more the items disappeared off the shelves, the more panic buying set in. Robert Higgs, cleveland, 9 Apr. 2020 A week earlier, people panic-purchased aisle after aisle of toilet paper and hand sanitizer.oregonlive, 21 Mar. 2020 In 2018, Democratic members of Congress introduced a bill that would ban gay and trans panic defenses in federal court. Tim Fitzsimons, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2020
Noun
The only hitch: The Rose Bar patio was properly tented in preparation for the night’s precipitation, though one section by the entrance sprang a leak around 10:30 p.m causing momentary panic. Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Sep. 2022 The urgency of needing drinking water is there, panic has kicked in slightly. Char Adams, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2022 Other experts on voting are alarmed but warn against panic. Nicholas Riccardi, Chron, 10 Sep. 2022 The internet needs one of those big red panic buttons. Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022 The state announced the prison’s closure in April 2021, causing widespread panic in long-shrinking Susanville, the only incorporated city in Lassen County.Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 In one scene in particular, Brenda’s panic being captured from multiple angles with fast cutting doesn’t have quite the effect that was perhaps intended. Kimi Robinson, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 Don’t Worry, Darling and the spit seen ’round the world, Lea Michele’s insane New York Times profile, and yet another moral panic about Target. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2022 The same goes for gilts, which lost slightly more than German bonds at all maturities; enough to notice, but a 3% yield on the 10-year is hardly a sign of panic with inflation at 10%. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022
Verb
There are plenty of reasons for Alabama fans to panic about the Crimson Tide’s uneven performance in a close call at Texas Saturday afternoon. John Talty | Jtalty@al.com, al, 11 Sep. 2022 Gabrielle also urges parents to ask questions about the side effects of asthma medications, noting that some inhalers and medications can increase a patient's heart rate and cause children to panic. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 Rosario said there is no time for the Guardians to panic, and that the club has faced worse situations already this year. Joe Noga, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 The officers then seem to panic and call for a medic. Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2022 Shortages of inventory combined with supply chain disruptions have caused consumers to panic buy or go without basic essential items. Sanjay Brahmawar, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 But scientists told the AP that the Earth's rotational speed fluctuates constantly and that the record-setting measurement is nothing to panic over.CBS News, 13 Aug. 2022 People began to panic-buy at the pumps and cancel trips. Dakota Cary, Scientific American, 9 Aug. 2022 Some rise to the occasion, others panic, incapable of thinking clearly, or bury their heads in the sand, like ostriches hoping everything will turn out fine. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 15 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
French panique, from Greek panikos, literally, of Pan, from Pan