# panic

/ˈpænɪk/ (US) · /pˈænɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/panic
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. sudden fear

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, strong feeling of fear that makes you unable to think or act normally.

For teachers: a state of sudden, overwhelming fear or anxiety that often affects a group and leads to irrational behaviour.

- When the fire alarm went off, a wave of panic spread through the crowd.
- The sudden announcement of a lockdown triggered a widespread panic, leading to long queues and empty shelves at local supermarkets.

### 2. financial crisis

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a situation where many people suddenly try to sell things or take money out of banks because they are afraid.

For teachers: a sudden, widespread financial crisis where investors sell assets rapidly due to fear of declining prices.

- The stock market panic of 1929 led to years of economic trouble.
- The central bank intervened to provide liquidity and prevent the localized bank failure from turning into a national financial panic.

### 3. computer crash

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a serious error that causes a computer system to stop working suddenly.

For teachers: a critical system error, particularly in Unix-based operating systems, from which the kernel cannot recover.

- The server suffered a kernel panic after the new software was installed.
- The system administrator spent the night investigating the logs to determine what hardware fault had triggered the recurring kernel panic.

### 4. to feel fear

verb · CEFR B2

to suddenly feel very worried or afraid so that you cannot think clearly.

For teachers: to experience a sudden, overpowering feeling of fear or anxiety; often used without an object.

- Don't panic if you get lost; just stay where you are and call for help.
- Investors began to panic as the currency lost value, selling off their holdings despite the government's pleas for calm.

### 5. to cause fear

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone else feel sudden fear or worry.

For teachers: to cause someone to feel overwhelming fear or to act hastily due to fright; used with a direct object.

- The sudden loud noise panicked the horses in the field.
- The false report of a gas leak panicked the residents, causing a chaotic evacuation of the entire apartment complex.

### 6. caused by fear

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing a feeling or action that comes from sudden, extreme fear.

For teachers: pertaining to or resulting from overwhelming fear or fright; typically used before a noun.

- She made a panic phone call to her parents when she couldn't find her passport.
- The board made several panic decisions during the crisis that they later came to regret once the situation stabilized.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.