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

Nike’s most sophisticated cushioning to date will get you outside and hitting PRs in no time, also functioning at its prime from the gym to the errand run. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 20 July 2026

Traditional midsoles were made of ethylene-vinyl acetate and could be higher, to provide more cushioning, or lower, to save weight. — Scott Douglas, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

The three-zone mattress is all about lumbar and hip support with ribbed cushioning. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026

Their footbed is crafted from a responsive yoga mat material that provides extra cushioning, premium arch support, and a lightweight, springy feel with every step. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above