cushioning

1 of 3

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 3

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

cushioning

3 of 3

present participle of cushion entry 2

Examples of cushioning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With a nursing pillow, though, your infant gets proper cushioning and support, which means your back, neck, shoulders, and arms don’t bear the brunt of the work. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

To stay on theme with a sporty look, these Brooks sneakers are a solid option that offer support, cushioning, and a lightweight feel. — Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026

These sleek sneakers are made with layers of contoured cushioning to mold to your feet, a rubber sole with traction to stabilize, and two different lace options to customize your look and enhance comfort. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, other players like Gary Payton and Reggie Miller wore the Air Much Uptempo, which featured a near-identical design but used visible Air cushioning only in the heel. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above