ENGLISH
REFERENCE

panicking

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpænɪkɪŋ// UK //pˈænɪkɪŋ// pan·ick·ing

adj. feeling a sudden, strong fear that makes it hard to think clearly or act sensibly. You use this to describe someone who is losing control because they are very worried.

adj. experiencing a sudden, overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety that prevents logical thought. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'become'.


SIMPLE

The panicking crowd ran toward the exit.

CONTEXTUAL

The hiker tried to stay calm, but he felt himself becoming panicking when he realized the sun was setting.

COMPLEX

In the wake of the sudden market crash, panicking investors began selling off their shares indiscriminately, which only served to accelerate the downward spiral of prices.

Synonyms
Usage

Often functions as a participial adjective; typically follows linking verbs or precedes the noun it modifies.

Pitfall

he was panicinghe was panickingVerbs ending in 'c' require a 'k' before adding '-ing' or '-ed' to maintain the hard 'k' sound.

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