muster

/ˈmʌstə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmʌstər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmə-stər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmʌs.tər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmʌs.tɚ/ (ame, ipa)

muster — 動詞

  • 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

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

鼓起；激起

從內心拼湊出勇氣、力量或支持

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.

例句

Lara mustered all the courage she had and asked her boss for a raise.

Lara 鼓起全部的勇氣，向老闆開口要求加薪。

muster + abstract noun (courage / strength / energy)

The new mayor could only muster lukewarm support from the council members.

新市長在議會裡只激起一點不冷不熱的支持。

muster + support / enthusiasm collocation

同義詞
  • 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

❌She mustered her bag and left.
✅She gathered her bag and left.
💡'muster' takes abstract qualities you summon from within, not physical objects.
❌He mustered to call his mother.
✅He mustered the courage to call his mother.
💡'muster' almost always needs an explicit object naming what is being summoned.

2. to bring soldiers (or sometimes other personnel like rescue crews or volunteers)

2.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

集合；召集

把人（尤指士兵）召集到同一地點

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.

例句

The captain mustered his troops at dawn before the long march north.

上尉在天亮前集合部隊，準備往北長途行軍。

transitive: muster + troops + at [time/place]

All recruits must muster on the parade ground at six sharp.

所有新兵必須在六點整到操場集合。

intransitive: muster + on / at [location]

同義詞
  • 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.

反義詞
  • disperse

    to send a gathered group in different directions; direct opposite of mustering.

  • dismiss

    to formally end a muster or assembly; used as a military command.

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

❌He mustered his cars in the garage.
✅He parked his cars in the garage.
💡'muster' is for assembling people, not vehicles or objects.

muster — 名詞