panic
C1 (High Frequency)Neutral to informal; used across registers from everyday speech to academic/technical contexts (e.g., economics, psychology).
Definition
Meaning
A sudden, overwhelming feeling of fear or anxiety, often causing irrational or frantic behavior.
A state of widespread alarm or financial instability (e.g., market panic); a sudden, uncontrollable fear that spreads rapidly through a group.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word describes both an individual emotional state and a collective social phenomenon. As a verb, it implies a loss of rational control. It often carries a slight negative connotation of overreaction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The adjective 'panicky' is slightly more common in British English. Spelling of derived forms: UK 'panicked, panicking'; US same.
Connotations
Identical in core meaning. The phrase 'panic attack' is a standard medical/psychological term in both variants.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] panicked.[Subject] panicked about [object].[Subject] panicked at [stimulus].[Cause] sent [object] into a panic.[Subject] was seized by panic.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “press/push the panic button”
- “panic stations”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to rapid sell-offs in financial markets ('market panic') or impulsive consumer behavior ('panic buying').
Academic
Used in psychology to describe acute anxiety states, and in sociology/economics to describe collective behavior.
Everyday
Describing personal stress ('I panicked before the exam') or crowd reactions ('There was panic when the alarm went off').
Technical
In medicine: 'panic disorder'; in engineering: 'panic hardware' (exit devices); in computing: 'kernel panic'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Don't panic if you miss the first train, there's another in ten minutes.
- The crowd panicked and rushed for the exits.
American English
- He panicked when he saw the police lights behind him.
- Investors panicked after the company's earnings report.
adverb
British English
- He looked around panickily for an escape route. (Note: 'panickily' is rare and awkward; 'in a panic' is preferred.)
American English
- She ran panickily from the room. (Rare; 'in a panic' or 'frantically' is more natural.)
adjective
British English
- She had a panicky feeling that she'd left the oven on.
- The government tried to avoid a panicky reaction from the public.
American English
- His voice sounded panicky over the phone.
- The news triggered a panicky sell-off in the stock market.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The loud noise caused a moment of panic.
- I panicked when I lost my keys.
- There's no need to panic; we have plenty of time to finish.
- Panic spread through the crowd when the lights went out.
- The rumours sparked panic buying of essential supplies.
- She managed to complete the presentation despite her initial panic.
- The economic data was misinterpreted, leading to a brief but intense period of market panic.
- His counsel was invaluable in averting widespread public panic during the crisis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of **PAN**-ic: Imagine a cooking **PAN** clattering loudly to the floor, causing everyone to jump in sudden fear.
Conceptual Metaphor
PANIC IS A FORCE (It *grips* people, they are *seized* by it, it *spreads*); PANIC IS A LIQUID (It *floods* the market, a *wave* of panic).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from Russian 'паника' for mild worry – English 'panic' implies stronger, more acute fear.
- The adjective is 'panicky' (not 'panic'). 'Паникёр' is best translated as 'alarmist' or someone who 'panics easily'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect verb form: 'She panic when she saw it.' (Correct: 'She panicked...')
- Overuse for mild anxiety: 'I panic a little about my homework.' (Better: 'I feel anxious/worried...')
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'panic selling' in a financial context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost always. It describes a loss of rational control. However, in evolutionary biology, a 'panic response' can be seen as a survival mechanism.
'Panic' is typically sudden, intense, and short-lived, often with physical symptoms. 'Anxiety' is often a more prolonged state of worry or apprehension, which can be less intense but more constant.
Yes, though often uncountable. You can say 'A sudden panic overtook him' (countable) or 'He felt panic' (uncountable). The plural 'panics' is used, e.g., 'financial panics in history'.
It comes from the name of the Greek god Pan, who was believed to cause groundless, frightening noises in the wilderness that would stir sudden, unreasoning fear in people and animals.