verb
Uncommon
muster
MUHS-tuh
Muster (verb) means to gather or summon up, especially strength, courage, or support. Example: “She mustered the courage to speak up in the meeting.”
verb
1
To gather or summon up, especially strength, courage, or support.
"She mustered the courage to speak up in the meeting."
"The team could only muster a weak defence in the final minutes."
2
To assemble troops or a group of people for inspection or duty.
"The soldiers were mustered at dawn before the march began."
noun
1
A formal gathering or assembly, especially of troops.
"The annual muster brought together veterans from across the region."
How to use muster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo gather together (people, strength, or courage), or the gathering itself.
Common pairings
muster up courage
muster the troops
pass muster
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Word forms
- Plural
- musters
- Third person singular
- musters
- Past tense
- mustered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ the courage to speak up in the meeting.
Etymology
From Old French mostrer/moustrer, meaning "to show," from Latin monstrare — the same root as "monster" and "demonstrate."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for muster
See all rhymes for muster →Frequently asked questions
What does “muster” mean?
The word “muster” means to gather or summon up, especially strength, courage, or support. In plain terms, to gather together (people, strength, or courage), or the gathering itself.
How do you pronounce “muster”?
“Muster” is pronounced MUHS-tuh (/ˈmʌstɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “muster” in a sentence?
Here is “muster” used in a sentence: “She mustered the courage to speak up in the meeting.”
What is another word for “muster”?
Words with a similar meaning to “muster” include review, parade and military parade.
What part of speech is “muster”?
Depending on how it is used, “muster” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “muster” come from?
The word “muster” comes from Latin. From Old French mostrer/moustrer, meaning "to show," from Latin monstrare — the same root as "monster" and "demonstrate.".
Is “muster” a common word?
“Muster” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “muster” have?
“Muster” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to gather or summon up, especially strength, courage, or support.
