Spongy means soft, full of holes, and able to soak up liquid like a sponge. When you squeeze something spongy, it compresses easily and then springs back to its original shape. A piece of bread fresh from the oven has a spongy texture inside. So does a marshmallow, a soaked dish sponge, or moss growing on a forest floor.

The word describes things that feel bouncy and yielding when you press them. Spongy snow is soft and your feet sink into it with each step. Spongy ground near a stream might feel unstable because water has made the soil loose and full of air pockets. Some cakes turn out disappointingly spongy when they don't bake properly, leaving them with too much air and not enough structure.

In science, bone that becomes spongy (such as from a disease) loses its normal density and becomes weaker, filled with tiny spaces instead of being solid. Doctors worry about this because strong bones need to be compact and hard, not spongy and fragile.