Panic is a sudden, overwhelming feeling of fear that makes it hard to think clearly. When someone panics, their heart races, their breathing quickens, and their mind fills with frightened thoughts that crowd out logical thinking. You might panic if you realize you've lost your backpack with your homework in it, or if you suddenly can't find your parent in a crowded store.

Panic differs from ordinary worry or nervousness. When you're nervous about a presentation, you can still prepare and practice. When you panic, fear takes over so completely that you might freeze up, make hasty decisions, or forget things you normally know well. A student who panics during a test might forget answers they studied, while a calm student remembers the same material.

Today we use panic as both a verb (Don’t panic!) and a noun (She felt a wave of panic.). During emergencies, people often say “don’t panic” because panic makes bad situations worse. Someone who stays calm can think through solutions, while someone in a panic might run in circles or make things more dangerous.