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 Fendi Cover, a sofa with softer and less sharp shapes, was designed by the team, made with a single layer of cushioning and embellished with a leather strap bearing the FF logo. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025

High heat can ruin the cushioning in running shoes and melt the glue that holds canvas sneakers together. —Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2025

Although the Air Max 1 was introduced in 1987, the Air Max series thrived in the ’90s, with a few developments along the way, thanks to the specific cushioning that was actually visible from the inside out. —Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025

The cushioning and padding are excellent, and the soft fabric provides even more comfort. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above