cushioning

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noun

cush·​ion·​ing ˈku̇-sh(ə-)niŋ 

: protection against force or shock provided by a cushion

Wearers will be able to pump air into the shoe's sole for extra cushioning.

—Joseph Pereira

Ligaments keep the vertebrae in place during movement, and fibrous disks with jellylike centers provide cushioning between them.

—Jane E. Brody

As part of NASA's "better, faster, cheaper" philosophy, the most recent missions to Mars largely relied on airbag cushioning for a soft landing.

—Beth Daley

Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet, which provides cushioning and sound-dampening.

—Joseph Truini

cushioning

2 of 2

adjective

: providing protection against force or shock : providing or serving as a cushion

Investigators are testing new kinds of cushioning material.

—Think

The ads will promote two key cushioning technologies …

—Jeff Jensen

Normal wear and tear also erodes the cushioning cartilage in our knees and hips, which decreases height a bit.

—Bob Guldin

But when they become wet from perspiration, cotton or wool socks hold the moisture against your skin and lose their cushioning ability …

—University Of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter

The mission also demonstrated a low-cost means of landing on Mars using cushioning airbags …

—Astronomy

Examples of cushioning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The sole is made with super lightweight yet springy cushioning to help propel you forward with each step. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 13 Aug. 2025

Soft cushioning and arch support keep your feet from aching after a day of sightseeing, and their silhouette is both slimming and easy to slip on and wear around your villa on the French Riviera or out to dinner and drinks in Nice or Antibes. —Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2025

And the fork has adjustable cushioning to smooth out some of the bumps. —John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025

Conceived in the mountains, HOKA footwear delivers an unprecedented combination of enhanced cushioning and support for a uniquely smooth ride. —Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above