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
Time
d
: inventory
… were sent … to take the musters of this expedition.—G. R. Elton
G. R. Elton
mustered; mustering
ˈmə-st(ə-)riŋ 
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
3
: to amount to : comprise
: to come together : congregate
Synonyms of muster
Relevance
Noun
Verb
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
Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
Self-reports may offer clues, but don’t pass objective muster.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
And on Friday, the Knicks held three Trail Blazers starters to fewer than seven points, including Holiday, who mustered five points on 2-of-7 shooting, and Toumani Camara, who the Knicks held scoreless at The Garden.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muster
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Noun
If a guest fails to complete the e-muster or check in at their muster station, the crew will ask them to join a second safety briefing.
—Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
Self-reports may offer clues, but don’t pass objective muster.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
In losing to the Flames, the Sharks failed to muster a consistent forecheck – the bread and butter of their offense – and managed just 17 shots on net through the first two periods.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
And on Friday, the Knicks held three Trail Blazers starters to fewer than seven points, including Holiday, who mustered five points on 2-of-7 shooting, and Toumani Camara, who the Knicks held scoreless at The Garden.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muster
Cite this Entry
“Muster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muster. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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 noun1
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
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