muster
/ˈmʌstə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmʌstər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmə-stər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmʌs.tər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmʌs.tɚ/ (ame, ipa)
muster — verb
- musterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- mustershe / she / it
- musteredpast simple
- mustering-ing form
1. to find and show as much of an inner quality such as courage, energy, enthusiasm
to find and show as much of an inner quality such as courage, energy, enthusiasm, or backing as you possibly can, often when the situation is difficult.
Lara mustered all the courage she had and asked her boss for a raise.
muster + abstract noun (courage / strength / energy)
The new mayor could only muster lukewarm support from the council members.
muster + support / enthusiasm collocation
After a long night shift, Asher could barely muster the energy to drive home.
Gabriela mustered a weak smile as the doctor explained the test results.
It took everything Quinn had to muster the patience needed to teach the toddlers chess.
- summon
near synonym for inner qualities; slightly more formal. 'summon the courage' and 'muster the courage' are interchangeable.
- gather
broader — works for physical things and emotional ones. 'gather your thoughts' is fine; 'muster your thoughts' sounds odd.
- drum up
specifically for support, interest, or business; more informal and active.
文法句型
muster + emotion / strength / support
用法筆記
Object is usually an abstract noun naming an inner quality the speaker has to dig for — courage, strength, energy, enthusiasm, support, patience, a smile. Often paired with words like 'barely', 'only', or 'all (the) X (one) had' to signal the effort.
常見錯誤
2. to bring soldiers (or sometimes other personnel like rescue crews or volunteers)
to bring soldiers (or sometimes other personnel like rescue crews or volunteers) together in one place for a shared purpose such as a battle, an inspection, or an emergency response — or, used without an object, for those people to gather themselves in that way.
The captain mustered his troops at dawn before the long march north.
transitive: muster + troops + at [time/place]
All recruits must muster on the parade ground at six sharp.
intransitive: muster + on / at [location]
Ravindra quickly mustered a small team of volunteers to clear the storm debris.
The rebels mustered along the riverbank, waiting for the signal to advance.
Minh mustered the firefighters in front of the station before assigning each crew its sector.
- assemble
neutral and general; works for people and objects. 'muster' carries a military or organisational flavour.
- convene
more formal; used for meetings, councils, or committees rather than troops.
- rally
emphasises bringing scattered people together quickly, often for a cause or in response to a crisis.
文法句型
muster [troops / people]
muster + adverb (at, on)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense takes people as its object or subject, not abstract qualities. Frequently used in military, naval, or quasi-military contexts (rescue teams, volunteer crews). Can be transitive ('the captain mustered the troops') or intransitive ('the troops mustered at dawn').
常見錯誤
muster — noun
- mustersingular
- mustersplural
1. a formal assembly of military or other uniformed personnel, called together at a
a formal assembly of military or other uniformed personnel, called together at a set time so they can be counted, inspected, or given orders.
Every Monday, Salma attended the muster before her coast guard shift.
attend / hold / call a muster
The general ordered a full muster of all units stationed near the eastern border.
muster + of + [units / personnel]
Nikos arrived late to the muster and received a stern warning from the duty officer.
At the dawn muster, each sailor's name was read aloud and answered with 'present'.
- assembly
general term for any organised gathering; 'muster' is narrower and military-flavoured.
- parade
implies marching or formal display; a muster is for counting and inspection, not necessarily ceremonial.
- roll call
the name-reading procedure that typically happens AT a muster; closely related but not identical.
文法句型
a muster of [people]
用法筆記
Almost always found in military, naval, or organised emergency-service contexts. The noun is far less common in everyday English than the verb senses; learners should recognise it but rarely need to produce it. Often appears in fixed phrases like 'roll call and muster' or 'morning muster'.