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

muster an army

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

mustered up the votes they needed

mustering support for the war

b

: to call forth : rouse

pushed with all the strength they could muster

3

: to amount to : comprise

intransitive verb

: to come together : congregate

Synonyms of muster

Noun

• assembly
• assemblage
• conference
• meeting

Verb

• summon
• organize
• mobilize
• order
• rally
• marshal

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

Furry Friends volunteers and their pets are carefully screened, and must pass muster as a team after taking a class led by a professional animal behaviorist. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025

During arguments, both conservative and liberal justices appeared skeptical about whether the tariffs pass legal muster. —Rob Wile, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025

Verb

Their sightings failed to muster enough concern to rise through the chain of public officials standing between new information and the public. —Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025

Offense comes up empty on first drive All UM could muster was a first down after being pinned to its 8 to start its first possession. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 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

Rhymes for muster

• bluster
• buster
• cluster
• duster
• juster
• luster
• lustre
• thruster
• trustor
• adjuster
• baluster
• blockbuster

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