cushion
B1Neutral to formal. Common in everyday and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A soft bag of cloth, leather, or plastic, filled with soft material, used to make a seat or chair more comfortable.
Something providing a protective, moderating, or softening influence; a buffer against impact or shock, either physical or metaphorical.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning is count noun (a cushion, cushions). The verb is transitive and suggests softening an impact or reducing effects. The metaphorical use (e.g., financial cushion) is frequent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. Minor usage difference: In UK English, 'pillow' is more common for bed use, while 'cushion' is for chairs/sofas. In US English, 'cushion' is used for any padded support, including some seat pads called 'pillows' in the UK.
Connotations
Both share core meaning. The verb 'to cushion' is equally common.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cushion [sth] (against/from [sth])cushion [sb] (against/from [sth])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cushion the blow”
- “financial cushion”
- “a cushion of air”
- “live in cushion comfort”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to financial reserves or extra time/resources to absorb shocks (e.g., 'a cash cushion').
Academic
Used in physics/engineering for describing damping, or in social sciences for describing protective factors.
Everyday
Primarily refers to soft furnishings for seating or comfort.
Technical
In engineering: a device or material that reduces shock/vibration. In sports: protective gear.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The thick carpet cushioned her fall.
- Savings helped cushion them from the economic downturn.
American English
- The helmet cushioning protected his head.
- We need to cushion the budget from unexpected costs.
adverb
British English
- She landed cushion-soft on the mat. (rare, compound modifier)
American English
- He fell cushion-soft into the snow. (rare, compound modifier)
adjective
British English
- It had a cushion-soft texture.
- The cushion cover needed washing.
American English
- The cushion-top mattress was very comfortable.
- She bought cushion foam for the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She put a red cushion on the chair.
- The sofa has three soft cushions.
- He used his savings as a financial cushion.
- The airbag is designed to cushion the driver in a crash.
- The government's stimulus package aimed to cushion the economy from the full effects of the recession.
- A layer of moss cushioned the impact of his footsteps in the forest.
- The central bank maintained foreign exchange reserves to act as a cushion against speculative attacks on the currency.
- His privileged upbringing had cushioned him from many of life's harsher realities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a soft, plush COUCH you SINK into – COUCH-SINK sounds like CUSHION.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION/SAFETY IS A SOFT BARRIER (e.g., 'cushion the impact of bad news').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating the verb as 'to pillow' (подушить). Use 'смягчать (удар)' or 'амортизировать'.
- The noun 'cushion' is not typically used for a bed pillow (подушка).
- Metaphorical 'cushion' often translates as 'подушка безопасности' (financial) or 'буфер'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pillow' and 'cushion' interchangeably in all contexts (UK distinction).
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'cushion to the fall' instead of 'cushion the fall'.
- Misspelling: 'cushin', 'cushon'.
Practice
Quiz
In a financial context, what does 'a cushion' typically refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, a pillow is for the head in bed, while a cushion is for comfort on chairs, sofas, or the floor. Usage varies slightly between UK/US.
Yes, it means to soften the impact or effect of something, either physically (cushion a fall) or metaphorically (cushion an economic shock).
Countable when referring to the object (a cushion, two cushions). The metaphorical use (e.g., 'a financial cushion') is also countable.
Confusing it with 'pillow' and using the wrong verb patterns (e.g., 'cushion from' vs. 'cushion against' – both are acceptable).