muster

[ muhs-ter ]

/ ˈmʌs tər /

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See synonyms for: muster / mustered on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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

to gather, summon, rouse (often followed by up): He mustered all his courage.

verb (used without object)

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

to come together; collect; assemble; gather.

noun

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

an assemblage or collection.

the act of mustering.

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

Verb Phrases

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

muster out, to discharge from service in the armed forces: He will be mustered out of the army in only two more months.

OTHER WORDS FOR muster

1 convoke.

1, 4 convene; congregate.

5 gathering, assembly, convention.

See synonyms for muster on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR muster

1, 4 scatter, separate.

See antonyms for muster on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about muster

pass muster,

to pass a cursory inspection.
to measure up to a certain standard; be adequate: Your grades don't pass muster.

Origin of muster

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

synonym study for muster

1. See gather.

OTHER WORDS FROM muster

pre·mus·ter, verb (used with object)un·mus·tered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH muster

muster , mustard

Words nearby muster

Mustard operation, mustard plaster, mustee, mustelid, musteline, muster, Muster Day, muster in, muster roll, musth, must-have

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use muster in a sentence

We were going to go for everything we could to protect the city, and it passed muster with everybody up the way.
U.S. Civil Engineers Bent the Rules to Give New Orleans Extra Protection from Hurricanes. Those Adjustments Might Have Saved the City During Ida|Alejandro de la Garza|September 2, 2021|Time
When the government conditions the grant of a benefit such as a permit, license, or registration on allowing access for reasonable health and safety inspections,’ it should not be difficult for such intrusions to pass constitutional muster, he wrote.
Supreme Court strikes down Calif. regulation allowing union access to farmworkers on growers’ land|Robert Barnes|June 23, 2021|Washington Post
To be clear, this isn’t law yet, and if the failure of another elections bill this week in the narrowly GOP-controlled state Senate is any indication, it isn’t a cinch to pass muster.
The GOP’s brazen move to strip power from a fraud-narrative-busting secretary of state — again|Aaron Blake|May 27, 2021|Washington Post
If a script doesn’t pass muster on the mental health front, McCarthy says he will ask executives not to buy it.
In a rare admission, MTV says its mental-health portrayals are sometimes damaging|Steven Zeitchik|April 1, 2021|Washington Post

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has spent years and millions of dollars trying to get a Climate Action Plan that passes legal muster.
Morning Report: County Tries Again on Climate Plan|Voice of San Diego|January 13, 2021|Voice of San Diego
If it passed muster with an adjudicator, it would be put on at the local playhouse.
Angelina Jolie’s New Muse: The Rise of Jack O’Connell, Star of the WWII Epic ‘Unbroken’|Marlow Stern|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unfortunately, the best response we can muster might be much harder than a band-aid or hidden camera.
Is Brooklyn Becoming Unsafe for Gays? It Depends On Which Ones|Jay Michaelson|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rising to retrieve it, I offer her what meager reassurance I can muster.
The Stacks: Grateful Dead I Have Known|Ed McClanahan|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But two years after that, UFW walked away from its negotiations with Gerawan, unable to muster adequate worker support.
A Crazy California Union Scandal|James Poulos|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet, relative to the massive amount of attention, shock, and criticism, I can only muster a shrug and a plea to chill out.
The Internet’s Latest Pearl-Clutching Panic Over Mamading Is Insane|Emily Shire|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These problems will exercise all the ingenuity and strength that Lombard Street can muster.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
He could hit upon no plan, and he couldn't muster confidence to turn in.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Bruno was then introduced to each of the scouts, and they seemed to pass muster, for to each one he offered his paw.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Well, though they do muster strong, we may make Edward's party skip for all that; if we have but justice on our side.
The Battle of Hexham;|George Colman
With these words she gave Oliver her purse, and he started off without more delay at the greatest speed he could muster.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for muster

muster

/ (ˈmʌstə) /

verb

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

muster in to enlist into military service
muster out to discharge from military service

(tr) Australian and NZ to round up (livestock)

(tr sometimes foll by up) to summon or gatherto muster one's arguments; to muster up courage

noun

an assembly of military personnel for duty, inspection, etc

a collection, assembly, or gathering

Australian and NZ the rounding up of livestock

a flock of peacocks

pass muster to be acceptable

Word Origin for muster

C14: from old French moustrer, from Latin monstrāre to show, from monstrum portent, omen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with muster

muster

In addition to the idiom beginning with muster

muster in

also see:

pass muster

muster

OTHER WORDS FOR muster

OPPOSITES FOR muster

Idioms about muster

Origin of muster

synonym study for muster

OTHER WORDS FROM muster

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH muster

Words nearby muster

Words related to muster

How to use muster in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for muster

Word Origin for muster

Other Idioms and Phrases with muster