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muster up

B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To force yourself to find courage or energy when it is hard.

Literal meaning: To assemble soldiers (muster) and bring them up to full strength — originally a military term.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

To gather enough courage, strength, or willpower to do something difficult.

"She finally mustered up the courage to ask her boss for a raise."

"He mustered up his courage and went in."

— Ernest Hemingway, 'A Farewell to Arms' (1929)
Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral

To gather or assemble people or resources, especially with effort.

"The team could only muster up five volunteers for the event."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

To produce or show something, such as a smile or interest, even when you do not feel it naturally.

"He mustered up a weak smile despite his disappointment."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Almost always used with abstract nouns: courage, strength, enthusiasm, energy, a smile. The particle 'up' reinforces the idea of collecting something together. Common in both British and American English.

Commonly used with

courage strength energy enthusiasm a smile support

Forms

Base
muster up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
musters up
he/she/it
Past simple
mustered up
yesterday
Past participle
mustered up
have + pp
-ing form
mustering up
continuous

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Synonyms

summon up pluck up gather work up dredge up call up

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