Phrase guide

pass muster

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˌpɑːs ˈmʌst.ə/
  • US: /ˌpæs ˈmʌs.tɚ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To meet or exceed a particular standard.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • To get a raise, an employee must pass muster with the boss.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To adequately pass a formal or informal inspection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From pass (“to undergo successfully”) + muster (“military assemblage or review”); from 1570s, originally as pass musters.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: mennä läpi — to meet or exceed a particular standard
  • Finnish: läpäistä testi — to meet or exceed a particular standard
  • Polish: nadawać się — to meet or exceed a particular standard
  • Polish: nadać się — to meet or exceed a particular standard
  • Finnish: päästä läpi — to pass a formal or informal inspection
  • Polish: zdawać egzamin — to pass a formal or informal inspection
  • Polish: zdać egzamin — to pass a formal or informal inspection
  • Russian: проходить (proxoditʹ) — to pass a formal or informal inspection