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

Thus, consider factors like cushioning, heel height, and material quality when determining if a boot is worth the extra cash. — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 20 Sep. 2026

Hoka sneakers are well known for their impressive cushioning that creates an almost cloud-like wearing experience, and that’s exactly why Sharkey loves them. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026

Adjective

And in many cases, the brand’s modern reissues are actually downgraded with less cushioning and lower quality materials as cost-cutting measures. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above