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panicked
/ˈpænɪkt/
suddenly very frightened
She panicked when she saw the fire alarm.
She became very afraid when she saw the fire alarm.
informal
to suddenly feel or show extreme fear or anxiety.
Investors panicked and sold their stocks during the market crash.
Investors suddenly became very afraid and sold their stocks during the market crash.
He panicked when he realized he missed his flight.
He suddenly felt extreme fear when he realized he missed his flight.
Commonly used in past tense ('panicked') to describe a sudden reaction to fear.
Collocations
panicked aboutworried or anxious about something suddenlypanicked reactiona sudden, extreme fear-based responsestart panickingto begin feeling sudden fear
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'panicked'
While 'panicked' describes sudden fear, reserve it for extreme situations. For milder anxiety, use 'worried' or 'nervous'.
Gold Rule
Past tense form
The word 'panicked' is the past tense of 'panic'. It is not a continuous action ('She was panicking' is correct, but 'She panicked' is more natural for a completed event).
Word Origin
From 'panic' (noun, meaning sudden fear) + '-ed' (past tense suffix). 'Panic' comes from Greek 'panikos' (of Pan, god of the wild), originally referring to sudden, groundless fear inspired by the god Pan.
Usage Notes
Used to describe a sudden, uncontrollable fear reaction. Often implies a loss of rational thinking in the moment. Common in both personal and financial contexts.
Word Breakdown
panic
sudden fear or anxiety
root-ed
past tense suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary