What is the past tense of "panic"?

The past simple of "panic" is "panicked". Don't panic! Everything will be okay.

What is the past participle of "panic"?

The past participle of "panic" is "panicked". Use it after have/has/had: "I have panicked".

What is a common mistake with "panic"?

Wrong: "He paniced when he saw the spider.". Correct: "He panicked when he saw the spider.". Add 'k' before -ed: panic → panicked (not paniced)

Conjugation of "Panic" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: Is "panic" regular or irregular?

"Panic" is a regular English verb. Both past simple and past participle are formed by adding -ed.

Q: How do you pronounce "panic"?

/ˈpæn.ɪk/ — Stress first syllable: PAN-ik. Keep the vowels short and crisp: PAN-ick.

Look up another verb

All 12 Tenses of "Panic"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "panic" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I panic`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I panicced`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will panic`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am paniccing`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was paniccing`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be paniccing`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have panicced`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had panicced`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have panicced`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been paniccing`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been paniccing`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been paniccing`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Panic" — Panicked

The past simple of "panic" is "panicked" — formed by adding "-ed". Use it for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past, such as "yesterday", "last week", or "in 2020". For the full grammar of this tense, see our simple past tense guide.

When he heard the news, he panicked and ran out of the office. B1
Consumers panicked and bought excessive quantities of food during the lockdown. B2

Past Participle of "Panic" — Panicked

The past participle of "panic" is "panicked" — the same form as the past simple, since "panic" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have panicked") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was panicked").

When he heard the news, he panicked and ran out of the office. B1
Consumers panicked and bought excessive quantities of food during the lockdown. B2

Is "Panic" Regular or Irregular?

"Panic" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "panicked". The 3rd-person singular present is "panics" and the gerund/present participle is "panicking".

Conjugation pattern: add -k before -ed/-ing (panic → panicked, panicking)

How to Pronounce "Panic" and Its Forms

Panic: /ˈpæn.ɪk/ — Stress pattern: Oo

Stress first syllable: PAN-ik. Keep the vowels short and crisp: PAN-ick.

Common mispronunciation of "panic"

puh-NICKED or PAY-nicked (wrong stress and vowel sounds)

Syllable breakdown: pan · ic

How to Use "Panic" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use 'don't panic!' as an imperative to calm others. Avoid 'panic about' without reason.

panic + infinitive
don't panic!
start to panic

Example Sentences with "Panic" in Different Tenses

Simple Past: When he heard the news, he panicked and ran out of the office. B1

Common Collocations with "Panic"

panic and run
don't panic
start to panic
panic-buy

When to Use "Panic" vs Similar Verbs

"panic" vs "worry"

worry is ongoing concern; panic is sudden acute episode causing irrational behavior

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

worry — ongoing concern; panic is sudden acute fear response
fret — continuous anxiety; panic is abrupt and intense
alarm — react with concern; panic involves loss of control

Antonyms: calm, relax, compose

Common Mistakes with "Panic"

Wrong: She panic often.
Correct: She panics often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Panic"

Greek panikon (deima): fear caused by Pan, the god of nature

panic-buying is a recent term for mass consumer behavior during crises or shortages

Other Forms of "Panic"

Noun: panic, panics
Adjective: panicked, panic-stricken
Adverb: in panic

Conjugation Tables for "Panic"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not panic · He does not panic
Simple past: I did not panic · She did not panic
Present perfect: I have not panicked · He has not panicked

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you panic? · Does he panic?
Simple past: Did you panic?
Present perfect: Have you panicked?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is panicked
Simple past passive: It was panicked
Present perfect passive: It has been panicked

Frequently Asked Questions About "Panic"

Is "panic" regular or irregular?: "panic" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "panicced".
What is the past tense of "panic"?: The simple past of "panic" is "panicced".
When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "panic"?: Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I panic every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am paniccing right now."