“Muster up” is like gathering all your bravery, strength, or motivation for something you need to do. It’s like when you’re scared to do something but you tell yourself, “Okay, I can do this,” and you gather all your courage to get it done. Let’s explore more about this phrase!
Table of Contents:
- ‘Muster Up’ Meaning and Definition
- How to Pronounce ‘Muster Up’?
- Origin of the word “muster up”
- ‘Muster Up’ in Parts of Speech
- Functions of ‘Muster Up’
- Other Grammatical Forms of ‘Muster Up’
- Synonyms and Antonyms of Muster Up
- Examples of “Muster Up” in Sentences
- Unique Examples of Muster Up for Spoken English
- Examples of ‘Muster Up’ from Web Articles
- Common Collocations with “Muster Up”
- Related Terms to “Muster Up”
‘Muster Up’ Meaning and Definition
- To gather or collect something: It means to bring together or gather something, like courage or energy.
- Example: “He mustered up all his courage to ask her out.”
- To summon or bring forth a feeling or emotion: It means to call upon or bring out a particular feeling or emotion, like bravery or determination.
- Example: “She mustered up a smile even though she was feeling sad.”
- To assemble or gather people: It can also mean to gather or assemble a group of people, especially for a specific purpose or event.
- Example: “The captain mustered up the crew for an emergency meeting.”
- To assess or count something: In some contexts, it can mean to count or assess the number of people or things present.
- Example: “The sergeant mustered up the soldiers to make sure everyone was accounted for.”
How to Pronounce ‘Muster Up’?
“Muster up” is pronounced like this: “MUH-ster uhp.”
Here’s a breakdown:
- “Muster” sounds like “MUH-ster,” with the stress on the first syllable.
- “Up” sounds like “uhp,” with a short “uh” sound followed by a “p” sound.
When you say it together, it sounds like “MUH-ster uhp.” Try saying it slowly at first, then pick up speed as you get comfortable with the pronunciation!
Origin of the word “muster up”
The term “muster up” has its roots in military usage. “Muster” originally referred to the gathering or assembling of troops, often for inspection, roll call, or to prepare for battle. This term dates back to the medieval period and has been documented in English since the 15th century.
‘Muster Up’ in Parts of Speech
“Muster up” is a verb phrase. Let’s break it down:
- Muster: This is the main verb, meaning “to gather or assemble.” Imagine calling all the knights to the castle!
- Up: This little adverb adds a special flavor. It emphasizes the effort involved in gathering, like climbing a mountain to assemble your team.
So, when you say “muster up,” you’re not just stating something exists (noun), describing it (adjective), or showing an action (verb). You’re specifically talking about an action with added emphasis on the effort required to achieve it.
Here’s a quick recap:
- Part of Speech: Verb phrase
- Meaning: To gather or assemble something, often with effort
- Examples:
- “She mustered up the courage to speak in front of the class.”
- “He musters up his energy for the long hike ahead.”
- “They mustered up enough resources to start their own business.”
Functions of ‘Muster Up’
There are other grammatical functions of “muster up.” Apart from being a verb phrase, “muster up” can also function as a phrasal verb and a noun phrase.
1. Phrasal Verb:
As a phrasal verb, “muster up” consists of a verb followed by a preposition or adverb that changes the meaning of the main verb. In this case, “up” acts as an adverb that intensifies the meaning of “muster.”
Explanation:
Phrasal verbs often have meanings that are different from the individual words. “Muster up” means to summon or gather something, like courage or energy.
Example:
- “She mustered up the courage to face her fears.”
- “He mustered up enough strength to lift the heavy box.”
- “They mustered up enthusiasm for the project.”
In each of these examples, “muster up” is used as a phrasal verb to describe the action of summoning or gathering something, such as courage, strength, or enthusiasm.
2. Noun Phrase:
Although less common, “muster up” can also function as a noun phrase, particularly when referring to the act of summoning or gathering something.
Explanation:
In this usage, “muster up” refers to the action itself rather than the thing being gathered.
Example:
- “The muster up of courage was essential for her to take the leap.”
- “His muster up of resources allowed him to start his own business.”
- “The team’s muster up of determination led them to victory.”
Here, “muster up” is used as a noun phrase to describe the act of summoning or gathering something, such as courage, resources, or determination.
Other Grammatical Forms of ‘Muster Up’
The phrase “muster up” primarily functions as a verb phrase, but it can also take on other grammatical forms. Here are a few examples:
- Mustered Up (Past Tense): When you talk about doing something in the past, you add “-ed” to the end of the verb, turning it into the past tense.
- Example: “She mustered up the courage to ask for a raise.”
- Mustering Up (Present Participle): Adding “-ing” to the end of the verb forms the present participle, indicating an ongoing action.
- Example: “He’s mustering up the strength to finish the race.”
- Musters Up (Third Person Singular): When talking about someone else doing something in the present tense and it’s just one person, you add “-s” to the verb.
- Example: “She musters up the confidence to give the presentation.”
- Mustered Up (Past Participle): Used with auxiliary verbs like “has” or “had” to show completed actions in the past.
- Example: “They had mustered up enough support to win the election.”
Synonyms and Antonyms of Muster Up
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Summon
- Gather
- Collect
- Rally
- Marshal
- Mobilize
- Garner
- Conjure
- Rouse
- Invoke
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Disperse
- Scatter
- Dissipate
- Disband
- Separate
- Divide
- Scatter
- Distribute
- Break up
- Dismiss
Examples of “Muster Up” in Sentences
Overcoming Fear:
- The trembling witness mustered up the courage to point out the assailant in court.
- Despite her stage fright, the actress mustered up her confidence and delivered a flawless performance.
- He mustered up the nerve to ask his crush out, even though his palms were sweating.
Gathering Resources:
- Lost in the wilderness, the hiker mustered up all their remaining supplies to build a fire.
- With just a few ingredients on hand, the cook mustered up a creative and delicious meal.
- The struggling company mustered up all its resources to launch a new product line.
Finding Motivation:
- Feeling drained, I mustered up the energy to finish my homework before bed.
- Staring at the blank page, the writer mustered up the inspiration to start their story.
- Despite setbacks, the athlete mustered up the determination to train harder.
Assembling a Team:
- To organize the charity event, they mustered up a team of volunteers with diverse skills.
- The detective mustered up a crack team of investigators to solve the complex case.
- Feeling lonely, the new student mustered up the courage to join a club and make new friends.
Figurative Use:
- The city mustered up a festive spirit during the holiday season.
- Their love story mustered up resilience and hope in the face of adversity.
- The poem mustered up a range of emotions in the reader.
Bonus examples:
- He mustered his strength to lift the heavy object. (Verb alone, no “up”)
- The team’s mustering of resources was impressive. (Gerund form)
- Exhausted but mustered, the team celebrated their victory. (Past participle)
Unique Examples of Muster Up for Spoken English
Let’s take “muster up” beyond the usual suspects. Here are some unique and simple examples you can use in your spoken English:
- Injecting Humor:
- “Ugh, cleaning this mess is daunting. Time to muster up my inner superhero and attack with a sponge!”
- “My social battery is low, but I’ll muster up a smile for this meeting. Wish me luck!”
- “Brain freeze incoming! But I’ll muster up the courage to finish this delicious ice cream.”
- Describing Everyday Situations:
- “Feeling uninspired? Let’s muster up some creative sparks by brainstorming together.”
- “Homework got you down? We can muster up some focus and tackle it together.”
- “Running late? Don’t worry, we’ll muster up some extra speed and still make it on time.”
- Expressing Empathy:
- “Seems like you’re facing a tough choice. Don’t hesitate to muster up whatever support you need.”
- “Feeling overwhelmed? Remember, you’ve got the strength to muster up through this.”
- “Going through a rough patch? I’m here to help you muster up your resilience.”
Bonus Usage Tips:
- Tip: Use “muster up” when you need to encourage someone to summon their courage or strength.
- Example: “You can do it! Just muster up the confidence to speak in front of the class.”
- Tip: Use “muster up” when discussing overcoming obstacles or challenges.
- Example: “I know it’s tough, but try to muster up the determination to keep pushing forward.”
- Tip: Use “muster up” to describe gathering resources or support for a project or initiative.
- Example: “We need to muster up enough volunteers for the beach cleanup this weekend.”
- Tip: Use “muster up” when talking about summoning positive emotions or attitudes in difficult situations.
- Example: “Even on a rainy day, she always manages to muster up a cheerful disposition.”
- Tip: Use “muster up” when referring to summoning energy or enthusiasm for a task or activity.
- Example: “It’s early in the morning, but let’s muster up some energy for our hike!”
- Tip: Use “muster up” when encouraging someone to gather their thoughts or focus.
- Example: “Take a deep breath and muster up your concentration for the exam.”
Examples of ‘Muster Up’ from Web Articles
- Eventually I had to muster up the courage to tell Mum that it had gone. [The Guardian]
- Now you just have to muster up the strength of purpose to follow logic and reason instead of taking the blindly instinctive route you’re currently on. [The Guardian]
- Muster up your last drops of goodwill towards her to imagine what it must feel like to believe that someone seems to be stealing Daddy’s love away from her. [The Guardian]
- Ah, so true– if we can muster up the courage to do that hard thing for the first time, the second time’s always easier (still a challenge, tho!!). [Medium]
- All I can muster up is two lines that I purposefully direct to my co-worker’s family and not her. [Medium]
- It is crazy indeed. If I can muster up the motivation for it, I will do so. [Medium]
- I’m trying to muster up the energy to put up my tree. [Medium]
- The second goal was to be able to muster up the confidence to talk with my colleagues and the other officers around NITI Aayog. [Medium]
Common Collocations with “Muster Up”
Here are some common words that are often used with “muster up”:
Effort-related:
- Courage: muster up the courage, muster up your courage (most common)
- Strength: muster up all your strength, muster up inner strength
- Energy: muster up the energy, muster up some energy
- Willpower: muster up the willpower, muster up your willpower
- Determination: muster up determination, muster up your determination
Resource-related:
- Resources: muster up resources, muster up all your resources
- Supplies: muster up supplies, muster up the necessary supplies
- Motivation: muster up motivation, muster up some motivation
- Support: muster up support, muster up all your support
- Team: muster up a team, muster up a team of experts
Figurative Use:
- Smile: muster up a smile, muster up a weak smile
- Laughter: muster up a laugh, muster up some laughter
- Hope: muster up hope, muster up a sliver of hope
- Inspiration: muster up inspiration, muster up creative inspiration
- Festive spirit: muster up a festive spirit, muster up some holiday cheer
Bonus Collocations:
- Muster up the nerve
- Muster up the audacity
- Muster up the patience
- Muster up the gumption
- Muster up the spirit
Related Terms to “Muster Up”
While “muster up” effectively conveys the idea of gathering something with effort, here are some related terms that offer different nuances:
Similar in meaning:
- Summon: implies calling upon something or someone with authority. (“He summoned his courage to face the challenge.”)
- Elicit: suggests drawing something out through effort or skill. (“The teacher elicited thoughtful responses from the students.”)
- Marshal: emphasizes organizing and directing resources or people effectively. (“The leader marshaled the troops towards victory.”)
- Garner: focuses on acquiring or collecting something valuable. (“She garnered support for her new project.”)
- Scrounge: implies finding resources through resourceful means, often with limited options. (“The lost hikers scrounged for food and shelter.”)
Related concepts:
- Resilience: the ability to recover from challenges and bounce back. (“She demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.”)
- Determination: unwavering resolve and commitment to achieve a goal. (“His determination to succeed was inspiring.”)
- Perseverance: the act of continuing despite difficulties. (“Through perseverance, they finally overcame the obstacle.”)
- Initiative: the ability to take action and start things without being told. (“He showed initiative by volunteering for the project.”)
- Grit: the courage and strength to persevere through hardship. (“She had the grit to face her fears and achieve her dreams.”)
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