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

The “safe” bond slice of your target-date fund, the part meant to cushion the ride, is stuffed with U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

That gave them enough of a cushion to weather a ninth-inning comeback attempt from the Phillies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

They feature a superlight foam cushion, springy carbon-fiber plate and titanium spikes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Vergara's framed picture of her dog was hidden inside her seat cushion, while Mel B's bracelet was concealed in one of the famous Got Talent red buzzers.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

I sit on a cushion as an imp braids my hair back from my face.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

For example, the simulations did not account for cartilage, the flexible tissue that cushions joints and can help absorb and distribute stress.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

The U.S. is a net exporter of petroleum products, which cushions the hit to consumers from higher fuel prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

The mission used inflatable cushions to pull it to the surface before dragging it back to the North Sea on a floating platform.

From BBC ● May 31, 2026

The barge idea was hatched after their initial attempt to save the whale with inflatable cushions and pontoons was unsuccessful.

From Barron's ● May 2, 2026

I shoved my phone in between the couch cushions as punishment.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Pale pink cushioned ottomans provide additional seating that can easily be moved around the room to accommodate additional guests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Its FlexFactor bra has an underwire that is encased in fabric to make it more cushioned against the skin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

Yet a loss of buffers that cushioned supply disruptions in recent weeks could spark the next significant move higher for prices.

From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026

Rows and rows and rows of cushioned seats leading up to the giant stage.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

But there were still cushioning factors, it added.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 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

So that’s what is cushioning much of the initial hit to households from higher gas prices, Skordeles says.

From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026

Cassiopeia had no helmet, but her pigtails, tied in a knot, provided ample cushioning for the wicker basket.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• bolster
• dampen
• insulate
• soften