often attributive
1
a
: a body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated and produce motion
b
: an organ that is essentially a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point and that by contracting moves or checks the movement of a body part
muscled; muscling
ˈmə-s(ə-)liŋ 
: to move or force by or as if by muscular effort
muscled him out of office
: to make one's way by brute strength or by force
Examples of muscle in a Sentence
Noun
the muscles of the arm
an athlete with bulging muscles
He pulled a muscle playing tennis.
She has a strained muscle in her back.
She started lifting weights to build muscle.
She doesn't have the muscle to lift something so heavy.
Verb
They muscled the heavy boxes onto the truck.
They muscled the furniture up the stairs.
He muscled through the crowd.
They muscled into line behind us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2025
Tightening the anal sphincter and pelvic floor muscles Straining: Pushing as if trying to go but without fully emptying
Defecating: Emptying the rectum without stopping
The radiologist captures images at each stage to see how your muscles function and help identify any issues.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 20 Feb. 2025
Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2025
The 2021 first-round pick is fully healthy again and has muscled up to around 220 pounds.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muscle
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Noun
Consuming protein benefits muscle growth and recovery.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2025
Tightening the anal sphincter and pelvic floor muscles Straining: Pushing as if trying to go but without fully emptying
Defecating: Emptying the rectum without stopping
The radiologist captures images at each stage to see how your muscles function and help identify any issues.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
Center Sophie Hart muscled her way to 14 points under the basket and Mallory Heyer delivered her second straight double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2025
The 2021 first-round pick is fully healthy again and has muscled up to around 220 pounds.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muscle
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Muscle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muscle. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
muscle
1 of 2 noun
mus·cle
ˈməs-əl
1
a
: a body tissue consisting of long cells that can contract and produce motion
b
: an organ that is a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point (as to bones) and that by contracting moves or stops the movement of a body part
2
a
: muscular strength : brawn
b
: power entry 1 sense 2
lacks the muscle to make good on campaign promises
muscle
2 of 2 verb
muscled; muscling
ˈməs-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to force from a position
was muscled out of office by political opponents
2
: to force one's way
muscled through the crowd
Etymology
Noun
from Latin musculus "muscle, little mouse," from mus "mouse"
Word Origin
People today are perhaps unlikely to think of their muscles as resembling mice. The ancient Romans, however, saw a likeness, especially in the major muscles of the arms and legs. For that reason the Latin word musculus, which originally meant "little mouse," came to be used to mean "muscle."
Medical Definition
muscle
noun
mus·cle
ˈməs-əl
often attributive
1
: a body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated and produce motion see cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, striated muscle
2
: an organ that is essentially a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point and that by contracting moves or checks the movement of a body part see agonist sense 1, antagonist sense a, synergist sense 2
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