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

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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

Meanwhile, their interior is lined with water-resistant fleece for added warmth and cushioning. —Emily Weaver, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024

These are also well mapped, with different support zones for the ankle, instep, and underfoot cushioning. —Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 10 Dec. 2024

And for extra—and crucially important—comfort, an anti-fatigue footbed and compression-molded EVA midsole provide responsive cushioning no matter how technical the trail gets. —Outside Online, 22 Nov. 2024

For fat pad atrophy, your focus should be more on cushioning, so keep an eye out for something soft. —Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above