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

• musters
  plural

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

• premuster
  verb (used with object)
• unmustered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• musters
  plural

Participles

• mustering
  present
• mustered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• muster
  simple
• musters
  simple
• have mustered
  perfect
• has mustered
  perfect
• am mustering
  progressive
• are mustering
  progressive
• is mustering
  progressive
• have been mustering
  perfect progressive
• has been mustering
  perfect progressive

Past

• mustered
  simple
• had mustered
  perfect
• was mustering
  progressive
• were mustering
  progressive
• had been mustering
  perfect progressive

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

See Examples For:

muster musters mustered mustering

But if the agreement passes muster in court, it will let J&J move on from endless legal costs and the uncertainty of jackpot jury verdicts to providing health products for American consumers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Sometimes she works with family members of someone who is ill, who she said are mostly looking to muster resources and handle what’s in front of them.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

They need only ensure that the commission cannot muster four votes.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

All eyes will be on whether an alternative candidate can muster the required support to challenge Burnham, nicknamed the "King of the North" for winning three consecutive Greater Manchester mayoral elections.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Then, with as much New York City attitude as she could muster, she added, “They call me Charlotte 2.0.”

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

"Even a cinematic maestro occasionally musters up a misfire," the Razzies said, in a press release announcing Coppola's win.

From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2025

And as is also his way, he musters up one big swing that cracks harder than all the rest.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2024

Tellingly, it’s only after Adam has his first ghostly visitation with his parents that he musters the courage to seek out a sobered-up Harry.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2023

To keep things on a cosmic scale, Messiaen musters a solo piano part of concerto-level difficulty and variety.

From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2023

There were fifty-four separate musters or groups in Elizabeth City with the largest of them being that of Capt.

From The First Seventeen Years: Virginia 1607-1624 by Charles E. Hatch

Both Musk and OpenAI have mustered high-dollar legal armies who are prepared to wage potentially years of litigation, including this federal trial.

From Slate ● Apr. 30, 2026

But against Wedgewood, the Kings have mustered little offense of their own, scoring just four times — three times on the power play and once off Moore’s leg.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026

The European Commission has mustered a team to try to break the deadlock over Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

Yet Newcastle never looked like producing a similar moment as Sunday's game went on, and forwards Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade mustered just a measly shot between them.

From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2026

Pax mustered as much dominance as he could.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

A couple of young women stood for a long time holding a bunch of flowers, mustering the courage to venture through the crowd towards the table.

From Barron's ● Jan. 1, 2026

Davis led the league in punt return average last season, but this year the Chargers are mustering just 9.7 yards per punt return with a league-low four attempts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2024

These were not easy conditions for mustering majority support.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2024

The outfit didn’t evoke a fearless mustering of Real American patriots so much as a Chippendale dancer gone to seed.

From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2024

“So treat us like guests,” she said, mustering her best Nina imitation.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo