cushion

American  

[koosh-uhn] / ˈkʊʃ ən /

noun

• cushions
  plural

1. a soft bag of cloth, leather, or rubber, filled with feathers, air, foam rubber, etc., on which to sit, kneel, or lie.

   Synonyms:

   pad

2. anything similar in form, used to dampen shocks or to prevent excessive pressure or chafing.

3. something to absorb or counteract a shock, jar, or jolt, as a body of air or steam.

   Synonyms:

   shock absorber

4. something that lessens the effects of hardship, distress, or the like.

   His inheritance was a cushion against unemployment.

5. Anatomy, Zoology. any part or structure resembling a cushion.

6. the resilient raised rim encircling the top of a billiard table.

7. a pad worn under the hair by women.

8. a portion of a radio or television script that can be adjusted in length or cut out altogether in order to end the program on time.

9. Ice Hockey, Canadian. the iced surface of a rink.

10. a pillow used in lacemaking.

11. a leather pad on which gold leaf is placed preparatory to gilding.

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verb (used with object)

• cushions,
  present (3rd person singular)
• cushioned,
  past participle,  past
• cushioning
  present participle

1. to place on or support by a cushion.

2. to furnish with a cushion or cushions.

3. to cover or conceal with, or as if with, a cushion.

4. to lessen or soften the effects of.

   to cushion the blow to his pride.

5. to suppress (complaints, lamentations, etc.) by quietly ignoring.

6. to check the motion of (a piston or the like) by a cushion, as of steam.

7. to form (steam or the like) into a cushion.

cushion British  

/ ˈkʊʃən /

noun

1. a bag made of cloth, leather, plastic, etc, filled with feathers, air, or other yielding substance, used for sitting on, leaning against, etc

2. something resembling a cushion in function or appearance, esp one to support or pad or to absorb shock

3. the resilient felt-covered rim of a billiard table

4. another name for pillow

5. short for air cushion

6. a capital, used in Byzantine, Romanesque, and Norman architecture, in the form of a bowl with a square top

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verb

1. to place on or as on a cushion

2. to provide with cushions

3. to lessen or suppress the effects of

4. to protect, esp against hardship or change

5. 1. to check the motion of (a mechanism) gently, esp by the compression of trapped fluid in a cylinder

   2. to provide with a means of absorbing shock

Usage

What does cushion mean? The word cushion most commonly refers to a soft object used to pad a surface or make it more comfortable to sit, stand, kneel, lie, or rest your head on. Couches have cushions that you sit on. A seat cushion is the kind on top of the seat of a chair. Pillows, mats, and pads are kinds of cushions. Cushions typically consist of a soft material filled with a soft or spongy substance, such as foam, feathers, or air (as in an air cushion)—anything that yields to pressure instead of remaining completely hard or firm. Example: The stuffing in these cushions needs to be replaced—look how flat they are. Another word for padding is cushioning. Something that has had a cushion or cushioning added to it can be described as cushioned. Something that is soft and comfortable like a cushion can be described as cushiony, as in Wow, this mattress is so soft and cushiony!As a noun, cushion can also be used in a figurative way to refer to a kind of buffer—something that helps to lessen the impact of negative circumstances or serves to delay such circumstances. An extra bit of money in your bank account for emergencies could be called a cushion. Cushion can also be used as a verb meaning to add cushions to or support with a cushion. It is commonly used in a more figurative way meaning to soften or lessen the impact of something. The mats used by gymnasts are intended to cushion their falls. In a literal sense, the verb phrase cushion the blow means to absorb the force from a strike, such as a punch, and lessen its effect. It is commonly used in a more figurative way, in which blow refers to the negative impact or consequences of something, as in I know the kids will be disappointed that the party is cancelled, but hopefully ice cream will cushion the blow.

Synonym Usage

Cushion, pillow, bolster agree in being cases filled with a material more or less resilient, intended to be used as supports for the body or parts of it. A cushion is a soft pad used to sit, lie, or kneel on, or to lean against: cushions on a sofa; cushions on pews in a church. A pillow is a bag or case filled with feathers, down, or other soft material, usually to support the head: to sleep with a pillow under one's head. A bolster is a firm pillow, long enough to extend the width of a bed and used as head support, with or without a pillow.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cushionless
  adjective
• cushionlike
  adjective
• cushiony
  adjective
• uncushioned
  adjective
• well-cushioned
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cushions
  plural

Participles

• cushioning
  present
• cushioned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• cushion
  simple
• cushions
  simple
• have cushioned
  perfect
• has cushioned
  perfect
• am cushioning
  progressive
• are cushioning
  progressive
• is cushioning
  progressive
• have been cushioning
  perfect progressive
• has been cushioning
  perfect progressive

Past

• cushioned
  simple
• had cushioned
  perfect
• was cushioning
  progressive
• were cushioning
  progressive
• had been cushioning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will cushion
  simple
• will have cushioned
  perfect
• will be cushioning
  progressive
• will have been cushioning
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of cushion

1300–50; Middle English cuisshin < Anglo-French; Middle French coussin ≪ Latin cōx ( a ) hip + -īnus -ine ¹; see coxa

Explanation

Fabric filled with foam, feathers, or other padding material makes a cushion, which can be used to make something like a chair or sofa more comfortable. The noun cushion can also refer to anything that is used to soften an impact or absorb shocks. In modern cars, for example, sometimes in a crash or accident, air bags will deploy and act as cushions for the passengers to prevent them from injuring themselves on hard surfaces like the dashboard or steering wheel. A cushion isn't necessarily a physical one, however, as you may want to keep an emergency fund as a cushion in case of unexpected expenses. As a verb, cushion means to protect from the impact of negative information so if you have bad news, you'll want to cushion the blow as much as possible.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cushion cushions cushioned cushioning

If even a government-sponsored enterprise couldn’t do it, that signaled it would be difficult for almost any financial-services company to raise fresh common equity to restore its capital cushion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

A low cost of capital can cushion shortfalls.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

The pick-six gave USC a two-score cushion ... which it promptly gave up in a span of two minutes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

That’s a good cushion in a downturn, but it’s also a sign the leadership can’t find acquisitions big enough and good enough for them to buy.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

“My vote’s with Gorgeous Gertrude,” I say, patting Gertrude’s cushion.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

That is the cornerstone of the classic 60-40 portfolio, where a diversified portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% bonds cushions volatility, with one rising when the other falls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Sometimes he would hide snacks in his family’s couch cushions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

If those two cushions disappear at the same time, the adjustment that has so far taken place almost entirely through valuation could quickly shift into stock prices.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

She also suggests "adding layers of texture through cushions, throws and blankets" thinking about mixing materials like velvet, boucle or chunky knits.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

He charges again, dives toward the sofa at me but I sidestep him, hop over the cushions and land on the other side on my back with a thud.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

After she was in freefall for 10,000ft, Holly Wiffen "hit a tree which cushioned her landing" and survived.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Each joint is cushioned by articular cartilage, a type of specialized tissue that covers the ends of bones.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

Noninterest income likely boosted 2Q operating income and cushioned net-interest income pressure, it says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Much more important, though, is that the energy fund would have cushioned your losses in several downturns.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

Luckily for the plant-ogre, its leafy branches cushioned the impact of its fall.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

U.S. refiners are supplying American consumers while cushioning a volatile global market that is driving prices higher at home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Wealth management is increasingly becoming a second earnings engine, cushioning lenders from net-interest-margin compression during easing cycles while preserving upside if rates remain elevated, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

A ball dropping, a defender flailing and a striker as cool as can be, cushioning the ball up and over a stranded goalkeeper.

From BBC ● May 23, 2026

Mother Mary, then, has just reached her rock bottom, with Sam’s good graces barely cushioning her fall.

From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026

It thought of food and water, but so many hours were spent just waiting, cushioning self against dread, that it no longer thought of much else.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

Related Words

• bolster
• dampen
• insulate
• soften