Meaning & use
shock absorbing
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Able to reduce the force of a hit, knock, or sudden movement.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: 'shock-absorbing foam'. It can also follow a linking verb: 'The foam is shock absorbing.'
Patterns
- shock-absorbing material
- shock-absorbing layer
- shock-absorbing effect
The running shoes have a shock-absorbing sole that protects your knees.
This shock-absorbing foam is used in helmets and car seats.
The packaging includes a shock-absorbing layer to protect fragile items.
adjectivebefore a nounfigurative
Designed to lessen the impact or unpleasant effects of a sudden event.
Grammar: Used figuratively before nouns like 'measure' or 'policy'.
Patterns
- shock-absorbing measure
- shock-absorbing policy
The government introduced shock-absorbing measures to soften the economic blow.
These shock-absorbing policies helped the country during the crisis.
Common combinations
- shock-absorbing material
- The helmet is made of shock-absorbing material.
- shock-absorbing sole
- These boots have a thick shock-absorbing sole.
- shock-absorbing foam
- The package was filled with shock-absorbing foam.
- shock-absorbing effect
- The design has a shock-absorbing effect on impact.
- shock-absorbing layer
- A shock-absorbing layer was added to the floor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cushioning
- Often used for soft materials that soften a blow; 'shock-absorbing' is broader and can refer to any system that reduces force.
- damping
- A more technical term used in physics and engineering for reducing vibration or oscillation.
- impact-absorbing
- Very similar, but usually refers specifically to absorbing the energy of a collision.
Opposites
Word family
- shock absorber noun
- A device that reduces the effect of a shock, especially in vehicles.
- absorb verb
- To take in or reduce the effect of something.
- absorption noun
- The process of taking in or reducing something.
Commonly confused: shock absorbing or shocking? shock absorbing or absorbing?
shock absorbing vs shocking
Means very surprising or upsetting, not able to reduce impact.
shock absorbing vs absorbing
Means very interesting and holding your attention, not related to physical shock.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Shock-absorbing' is an adjective that comes before a noun, so 'shock-absorbing foam' is correct. Option 2 incorrectly uses it as a verb. Option 3 has a grammar error with 'is protect'. Option 4 places the adjective after the noun, which is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shock absorbing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.