panic
n. C / U B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpænɪk// UK //pˈænɪk// pan·ic
n. a sudden, strong feeling of fear that makes you stop thinking clearly. You often feel this when you are in a dangerous or stressful situation.
n. a sudden, overwhelming feeling of fear or anxiety that prevents logical thought and often leads to impulsive action.
She felt a sudden wave of panic when she lost her keys.
The fire alarm caused a brief moment of panic, but the staff quickly guided everyone to the nearest exit.
Market analysts observed that the sudden drop in stock prices triggered a widespread panic among investors, leading to a massive sell-off that lasted until the closing bell.
Pitfall
I was in a panic stateI was in a panicLearners often add 'state' or 'situation' unnecessarily; 'in a panic' is the standard idiomatic phrase.