muster

American  

[muhs-ter] / ˈmʌs tər /

verb (used with object)

musters, present (3rd person singular) mustered, past participle, past mustering present participle

1. to assemble (troops, a ship's crew, etc.), as for battle, display, inspection, orders, or discharge.

   Synonyms:

   congregate, convene, convoke

   Antonyms:

   separate, scatter

2. to gather, summon, rouse (often followed byup ).

   He mustered all his courage.

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verb (used without object)

musters, present (3rd person singular) mustered, past participle, past mustering present participle

1. to assemble for inspection, service, etc., as troops or forces.

2. to come together; collect; assemble; gather.

   Synonyms:

   congregate, convene

   Antonyms:

   separate, scatter

noun

1. an assembling of troops or persons for formal inspection or other purposes.

   Synonyms:

   convention, assembly, gathering

2. an assemblage or collection.

3. the act of mustering.

4. Also called muster roll.  (formerly) a list of the persons enrolled in a military or naval unit.

verb phrase

1. muster out to discharge from service in the armed forces.

   He will be mustered out of the army in only two more months.

2. muster in to enlist into service in the armed forces.

idioms

1. pass muster,

   1. to pass a cursory inspection.

   2. to measure up to a certain standard; be adequate.

      Your grades don't pass muster.

muster British  

/ ˈmʌstə /

verb

1. to call together (numbers of men) for duty, inspection, etc, or (of men) to assemble in this way

2. 1. to enlist into military service

   2. to discharge from military service

3. (tr) to round up (livestock)

4. to summon or gather

   to muster one's arguments

   to muster up courage

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noun

1. an assembly of military personnel for duty, inspection, etc

2. a collection, assembly, or gathering

3. the rounding up of livestock

4. a flock of peacocks

5. to be acceptable

muster More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing muster

• pass muster

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Synonym Usage

See gather.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unmustered
  adjective
• premuster
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has mustered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have mustered
  perfect
• has been mustering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are mustering
  progressive
• have been mustering
  perfect progressive
• is mustering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• musters
  singular 3rd person
• am mustering
  progressive 1st person singular
• mustering
  participle

Past

• had mustered
  perfect
• was mustering
  progressive singular
• were mustering
  progressive plural
• mustered
  simple
• had been mustering
  perfect progressive
• mustered
  participle

Future

• will muster
  simple
• will have mustered
  perfect
• will be mustering
  progressive
• will have been mustering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of muster

1250–1300; Middle English mostren (v.) < Old French mostrer < Latin mōnstrāre to show, derivative of mōnstrum unnatural event; see monster

Explanation

Originally meaning "to gather soldiers," muster has been expanded to include gathering up just about anything — you can muster up some dinner, some friends, or even some ketchup, pickles, and mustard. Remember that muster used to involve getting reluctant soldiers out of bed and into the field of battle — so it involves overcoming a certain inertia. When you muster up the courage to face something, it's clear that this is pretty scary for you.

Example Sentences

Security is omnipresent, and the comforts we take for granted in the West can vanish without warning—as when my upscale hotel couldn’t muster a hot shower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Drake will continue to be the biggest name in rap, because no one can muster up the energy to imagine the radio without him.

From Salon • May 21, 2026

When we approached our PBM about distributing the discounted version, the team refused, citing every flimsy excuse it could muster.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

“He pitched well and when a guy like that pitches well you just got to do your best in battle and I feel like our guys were battling, just couldn’t muster anything up.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

I fumble around the henna table and make it three tables over to a clothes rack, with as much nonchalance as one can muster when one’s breathing is wheezy for no physical reason.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali