ENGLISH
REFERENCE

panicked

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpænɪkt// UK //pˈænɪkt// pan·icked

adj. feeling a sudden, strong fear that makes it hard to think clearly or act sensibly.

adj. characterised by or suffering from a sudden, overwhelming fear that prevents logical thought. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'become'.


SIMPLE

The panicked crowd ran toward the exit.

CONTEXTUAL

When the power went out in the elevator, several panicked passengers began shouting for help.

COMPLEX

The panicked reaction of the global markets suggests that investors have little confidence in the central bank's ability to curb inflation through interest rate hikes alone.

Synonyms
Origin

From panic + -ed.

Usage

Often follows a linking verb or appears before a noun to describe a person's state or reaction.

Pitfall

he panicedhe panickedWhen adding -ed or -ing to 'panic', a 'k' must be inserted to maintain the hard 'c' sound.

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