muster

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

• 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

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

a command to muster the troops

Recent Examples on the Web

All the back-and-forth came to an ice-cold end to start the second half as the Knicks only mustered two points through the first five minutes of the third quarter, as the Spurs’ lead grew to as many as 14. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 4 June 2026

Watching Nate slowly meet consequences in beatings from mobsters, while Cassie could barely muster concern, was Levinson succeeding at gallows humor. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 June 2026

Clare Kelly, 1st, proposed that the City Council default to its longest-serving member if three successive votes for acting mayor couldn’t muster a two-thirds approval. —Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026

Stankoven’s line is a microcosm of Carolina’s depth advantage, an overwhelming collection of talent that is miles ahead of what most teams can muster in that spot. —Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

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
• maister
• thruster
• trustor
• adjuster
• baluster

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