# panicked

/ˈpænɪkt/ (US) · /pˈænɪkt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. feeling extreme fear

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling so much fear or worry that you cannot think or act normally.

For teachers: characterised by or experiencing a sudden, overwhelming feeling of terror that prevents logical thought.

- The panicked passengers tried to find the emergency exits when the smoke appeared.
- The panicked investors began selling their shares indiscriminately as soon as the news of the market crash broke.

## Examples

- The panicked crowd ran toward the exit.
- When the power went out in the elevator, several panicked passengers began shouting for help.
- 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.

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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.