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

• assembly
• assemblage
• conference
• meeting

Verb

• summon
• mobilize
• organize
• marshall
• order
• marshal
• rally
• arrange

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

Judged by those criteria, neither Macron’s proposal nor any other option for an independent European nuclear deterrent currently passes muster. —Florence Gaub, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025

But Democrats announced on Sunday that the parliamentarian, a nonpartisan arbiter of the upper chamber’s rules, found that this provision did not pass muster. —Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 23 June 2025

Verb

The largest single barrage Iran could muster throughout the war was just 100 missiles. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 June 2025

Guess his teammates are still too thrilled to have met Trump at the White House earlier this year to muster up the energy to say anything? —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 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