- pronunciation:
- pae
nihk
- parts of speech:
- noun, verb
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a sudden terror that often causes wild behavior and spreads to many other individuals.
The fire caused a panic in the building.- similar words:
- alarm, fear, scare, terror
|
| related words: |
dismay, dread, fright, horror |
|
|
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
panics, panicking, panicked |
| definition: |
to feel or be overcome by panic.
She panics whenever she has to give a speech. |
| derivation: |
panicky (adj.) |
Our word
panic comes from
Pan, the name of the Greek god of woods and shepherds. Pan was believed to be the cause of sudden, wild fear that could not otherwise be explained.