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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 the bloc has failed to muster the momentum that swept it to power four years ago.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

When Joe Bauer is pressed to share his vision of a better world, all Wilson can muster is a mumbled plea to maybe read more books.

From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026

The settlement still needs to pass muster with the judge who was overseeing the trial.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

But the Dodgers offense didn’t muster a comeback, as the top of the batting order went down in order with two runners on.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Sometimes they will stand and say Kaddish with those who can muster it.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

But Romania, whether on or off the studio lot, only occasionally musters a decent impression of 19th century Virginia, reminding you, as “The Gray House” often does, that this is only a movie.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026

"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

Both are longtime members of a local search and rescue team that musters after accidents to help find and dig out fatal avalanche victims.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 2, 2024

About this time the settlement numbered some twenty persons, but a year later it had only twelve in four separate musters.

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

Through five innings, they mustered only two baserunners against Tigers starter Keider Montero.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

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

While previous opposition leaders mustered crowds of a few dozen if they ventured out of Budapest, Magyar attracts hundreds in villages, and thousands or tens of thousands in provincial urban Fidesz strongholds.

From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

“And if I don’t do something,” I finally mustered, “if I just stay silent, it’s just like saying it’s not my problem.”

From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds

Camel number are kept in check by mustering, shooting and trapping at water points.

From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026

They had scored a miserly 15 in their previous 20 league games this season, mustering just 66 shots on target from 226 attempts.

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2025

With a weak, unimaginative script by Zach Baylin and William Schneider doing him no favors, Skarsgård looks as lost as the pre-reborn Eric, never mustering enough mythic power.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2024

Times, declared, “I have a hard time even mustering a ‘meh.’

From Slate ● Apr. 19, 2024

Clare released a cry, mustering whatever strength was left in him.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman