muster

1 of 2

noun

mus·​ter ˈmə-stər 

1

: a representative specimen (see specimen sense 1) : sample

musters of goods for sale

2

a

: an act of assembling

specifically : formal military inspection

Call out the troops to stand muster.

b

: critical examination

slipshod work that would never pass muster

c

: an assembled group : collection

a muster of biographical facts

—Time

d

: inventory

were sent … to take the musters of this expedition

—G. R. Elton

muster

2 of 2

verb

mustered; mustering ˈmə-st(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to gather : convene

b

: to enroll formally

—usually used with in or into

was mustered into the army

c

: to call the roll of

2

a

: to bring together : collect

b

: to call forth : rouse

3

: to amount to : comprise

intransitive verb

: to come together : congregate

Synonyms

Noun

• assemblage
• assembly
• conference
• congregation
• convocation
• gathering
• ingathering
• meeting

Verb

• marshal
• marshall
• mobilize
• rally

Choose the Right Synonym for muster

summon, call, cite, convoke, convene, muster mean to demand the presence of.

summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

Examples of muster in a Sentence

Noun

a muster of concerned citizens

considering the muster of suggestions that were submitted for “word of the year”

Verb

They pushed the car with all the strength they could muster.

a command to muster the troops

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While nearly 92% of stops by patrol cops passed muster, just 75% of those by Neighborhood Safety Teams were. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025

In his first round, his policy proposals were often rushed through and failed to pass legal muster. —Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2025

Verb

Judges are starting to restrain Donald Trump and Elon Musk, doing the work the legislative branch and activists seem unable to muster. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025

The same teenager who only mustered a measly 4 points in the first 33 minutes against Clemson … somehow summoned something from deep within, scoring 14 points in six minutes to will Duke back into the ballgame. —Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mustre, from Anglo-French mostre, monstre, from mustrer

Verb

Middle English mustren to show, muster, from Anglo-French mustrer, monstrer, from Latin monstrare to show, from monstrum evil omen, monster — more at monster entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing muster

• muster out
• muster roll
• pass muster

Kids Definition

muster

1 of 2 verb

mus·​ter ˈməs-tər 

mustered; mustering

-t(ə-)riŋ

1

a

: to enroll formally

was mustered into the army

b

: to assemble (as troops) for roll call or inspection

2

: to stir up or bring to action

all the strength I could muster

muster

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: an act of assembling

especially : a formal military inspection or drill

b

: an assembled group : collection

2

: critical examination

work that did not pass muster