muster up

USAGE SUMMARY

"muster up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "muster up" when you need to summon up courage, strength, or determination to do something. Example sentence: She mustered up the courage to give a speech in front of the entire class.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It wouldn't muster up," he said.

The New Yorker

I can't muster up that clarity myself, though.

The New Yorker

Moores can muster up Matt Prior, Broad and Graeme Swann.

The Guardian - Sport

Realistically, I think that Toronto can muster up a draw.

The Guardian - Sport

They must endure intrusive interviews and muster up forced smiles.

The New York Times

It took Ms. Maggi a week to muster up the courage to ask her parents.

The New York Times

"For each new prescription," Amy says, "I must muster up energy to begin the hunt.

The New York Times

But they muster up sandwiches and coffee, and are genial as can be.

The Guardian - Film

I'm sure he'd be grateful for any donations fellow OBOers could muster up".

The Guardian - Sport

They finally muster up some decent shots and then Krul pulls off two brilliant saves.

The Guardian - Sport

Surely these two football-loving nations could muster up enough courage to play in a true battle.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "muster up" when you want to emphasize the effort required to summon a particular quality, such as courage or energy. For instance, "She had to muster up all her courage to face her fears".

Common error

Avoid using "muster up" in contexts where simple gathering or collecting is meant. It implies a degree of difficulty or effort in bringing something forth, so "gather" or "collect" may be more appropriate if the action is straightforward.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "muster up" functions primarily as a dynamic verb, indicating an action of summoning or gathering something, typically an internal resource like courage or energy. As Ludwig AI explains, it refers to calling upon some inner resources. Examples from Ludwig show it used with courage, strength, and energy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Reference

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "muster up" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrasal verb that signifies summoning or gathering a particular quality, usually an internal resource like courage or energy. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widely accepted in standard English. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media contexts and carries a neutral register, suitable for a variety of writing styles. While alternatives like "summon" or "gather" exist, "muster up" uniquely emphasizes the effort required to access these internal resources. When writing, remember to reserve this phrase for situations where genuine effort and determination are involved in calling forth the described quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dig deep

Figurative expression for accessing inner resources, particularly effort.

call upon

More formal, implying reliance on an inner resource.

summon

Single word alternative, less descriptive than "muster up".

gather

Implies collecting something, less specific to inner strength than "muster up".

conjure up

Similar to summoning, but can also imply creating something from nothing.

rouse

Suggests awakening or stirring up, applicable to emotions or energy.

bring forth

Formal alternative for producing something, like courage or effort.

find

Simple term suggesting discovering something within oneself.

drum up

Focuses on generating enthusiasm or support, applicable in certain contexts.

gin up

Informal term for generating excitement or energy.

FAQs

How can I use "muster up" in a sentence?

"Muster up" is used to describe summoning a particular quality, often courage or energy. For example, "He had to muster up all his strength to lift the heavy box".

What can I say instead of "muster up"?

You can use alternatives like "summon", "gather", or "dig deep" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "muster up the courage"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. The phrase "muster up the courage" is a common and idiomatic way to express gathering the necessary bravery to face a challenge.

What's the difference between "muster up" and "summon"?

"Muster up" often implies a greater degree of effort and inner struggle to gather the necessary resource, whereas "summon" is a more general term for calling something forth.