muster

noun

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mus·ter | \ ˈmə-stər

Definition of muster

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a representative specimen (see specimen sense 1) : sample musters of goods for sale

2a : 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

verb

mustered; mustering\ ˈmə-st(ə-)riŋ

Definition of muster (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

2a : to bring together : collect

b : to call forth : rouse

3 : to amount to : comprise

intransitive verb

: to come together : congregate

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing muster Learn More About muster

Synonyms & Antonyms for muster

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Verb

demob
[chiefly British],
demobilize

Choose the Right Synonym for muster

Verb

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 One judge argued that the judiciary has a role in deciding whether the map passes constitutional muster. — Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2022 But it’s been endlessly masticated by experts, many of whom assert that it can be fashioned in a way that passes constitutional muster. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2022 During roughly 90 minutes of arguments, the court's conservative members at times appeared skeptical the restriction passes constitutional muster. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2022 Six other states have similar rules, which the court said today do not pass constitutional muster. — Harry Bruinius, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 June 2022 Their methods will also have to pass muster with government regulators before crops transformed this way will ever reach farmers’ fields. — New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 No date for a vote on the deal has been set in stone, as the chamber is waiting for the Senate Parliamentarian to consider if the provisions passes muster to be included in reconciliation. — Rachel Scott, ABC News, 28 July 2022 Elon Musk’s attempt to walk away from his $44 billion Twitter Inc. buyout will turn on a three-word phrase that’s sometimes asserted in busted mergers—but rarely passes muster with judges. — Erin Prater, Fortune, 9 July 2022 In the story, the narrator is especially sensitive to what the one other Asian student in the workshop thinks, whether her story, based on her experiences, passes muster with him. — Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 4 July 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb But earlier this month, the company failed to muster enough shareholder votes to support a one-year extension to complete the deal. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 26 Sep. 2022 But the plan collapsed when Democrats failed to muster enough Senate votes for the ambitious Build Back Better legislation. — Christopher Rowland, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2022 After Burrill’s stunning TD run, the Sailors failed to muster much of a response, going interception, punt, punt, fumble, interception on its ensuing five possessions of the first half. — Michael Vega, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 But the Mariners failed to muster any run support for Ray. — Shane Lantz, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2022 Alabama needed every yard the reigning Heisman Trophy winner could muster in a sloppy performance. — Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2022 Unfortunately, after scoring seven with a field goal and two safeties last week, the touchdown was all Iowa would muster in a 10-7 loss to rival Iowa State. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 But Sarah Jo’s on her own planet — and, if anything, her assertiveness about her own flaws, such as the scar on her belly, is more forward an act than Josh could ever muster. — K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2022 With all that in mind, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will feature the best possible hardware that Apple can muster this year. — Chris Smith, BGR, 26 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'muster.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for muster

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