muscle

muscle — noun

1. the stretchy substance found inside people and animals that becomes shorter and

1.nounA2
Definition

the stretchy substance found inside people and animals that becomes shorter and firmer when you use it, allowing your arms, legs, and other parts to move

Example

Mateo felt his arm muscle tighten as he lifted the heavy box onto the shelf.

collocation: muscle tighten/relax

Regular stretching helps keep your leg muscles flexible and free from injury.

Common collocations
  • arm muscle
  • leg muscle
  • shoulder muscle
  • muscle tissue
  • muscle fiber
  • cardiac muscle
  • pull a muscle
  • muscle aches
  • muscle pain
  • build muscle
  • strengthen muscles
Synonyms
  • tissue

    broader term — muscle is one type of body tissue

  • sinew

    literary or technical term for a tendon-like muscle; much less common

Common Mistakes

I hurt my nerve when I lifted the bag.
I hurt my muscle when I lifted the bag.
Nerves carry signals; muscles move the body.

2. a muscle that has been hurt by being stretched or twisted too far, causing sharp

2.nounB1
Definition

a muscle that has been hurt by being stretched or twisted too far, causing sharp pain

Example

Amira sat out of the match because she had a pulled muscle in her thigh.

collocation: pulled muscle

The physiotherapist told Aarav to rest his torn muscle for at least one full week.

Common collocations
  • pulled muscle
  • torn muscle
  • strained muscle
  • rest a muscle
  • muscle injury
  • muscle spasm
Synonyms
  • injury

    broader — not specific to muscles; includes bone, ligament, and skin damage

  • strain

    a medical term for the injury itself, not the body part

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs like 'pull', 'strain', 'tear', or 'twist' to describe how the injury happened. The past participle form ('pulled muscle', 'strained muscle') often acts as an adjective before the noun.

Common Mistakes

I hurt my muscle' (when describing a specific overstretch injury).
I pulled a muscle in my leg.
'Pull a muscle' is the natural expression for a muscle injury from overstretching.

3. the ability to get what you want or to make others follow your wishes, especiall

3.nounB2
Definition

the ability to get what you want or to make others follow your wishes, especially because of your money, position, or connections

Example

The corporation used its financial muscle to push the new policy through parliament.

collocation: financial muscle

Walid's political muscle grew stronger after he helped so many local community groups.

collocation: political muscle

Common collocations
  • financial muscle
  • economic muscle
  • political muscle
  • flex one's muscles
  • show muscle
  • military muscle
Synonyms
  • power

    overlaps almost completely; 'muscle' emphasises the ability to force compliance, while 'power' is broader

  • influence

    softer connotation — influence persuades, while muscle compels

  • clout

    more informal; often used in political or business contexts

  • leverage

    focuses on using what you have to gain advantage over others

Antonyms
  • weakness

    the opposite of having power or influence

Usage Note

Commonly paired with adjectives like 'financial', 'economic', 'political', and 'military'. The phrase 'flex one's muscles' (also literal sense) is a fixed idiom meaning to show off power or strength.

Common Mistakes

The company has a lot of muscle' (using as countable noun when it should be uncountable in this sense).
The company has a lot of muscle.
In this sense, 'muscle' is uncountable: no article needed.

4. strong people who are paid to protect someone, to threaten others, or to make su

4.nounB2
Definition

strong people who are paid to protect someone, to threaten others, or to make sure that orders are obeyed

Example

The gang brought some muscle along to make sure nobody caused trouble at the meeting.

Adisa worked as hired muscle for a private security company in the city.

collocation: hired muscle

Common collocations
  • hired muscle
  • bring muscle
  • send muscle
Synonyms
  • enforcer

    countable noun for one person; 'muscle' is the collective term

  • thug

    more negative and general — a thug may act alone; muscle is typically hired

  • bodyguard

    generally legal/protective; muscle often implies intimidation force

Usage Note

Always uncountable — 'muscle' refers to the group collectively, not an individual. You cannot say 'a muscle' for a single enforcer. Use 'muscle' as a mass noun: 'bring muscle', 'hire muscle'.

Common Mistakes

He is a muscle for the mafia.
He is hired muscle for the mafia.
'Muscle' in this sense is uncountable and refers to a group or type of person, not an individual.
Phrasal verbs

muscle in

phrasal verb

to force your way into a situation or area where you are not wanted, using your strength or influence

A big developer tried to muscle in on the local market by undercutting small shops.

Élise warned her cousin not to muscle in on her catering business after she had built it up.

muscle out

phrasal verb

to force someone or something out of a position or area by using power, influence, or strength

The chain store muscled out the family-run bakery by opening right across the street.

Amihan's team was muscled out of the competition by a much larger and better-funded group.

Idioms

flex one's muscles

idiom

to show other people how much power or strength you have, often in a way that is meant to impress or threaten them

The navy decided to flex its muscles by holding military drills near the disputed waters.

Mateo flexed his muscles at the beach, hoping the other swimmers would notice his training.

not move a muscle

idiom

to stay completely still, without moving any part of your body

The cat sat on the windowsill and did not move a muscle as the bird landed nearby.

Talia told the children to play hide-and-seek and not move a muscle until she counted to thirty.

muscle — verb

Word family

  • muscular
    adjectiveB1
  • muscle-bound
    adjectiveC1
  • muscled
    adjectiveB2
  • muscularity
    nounC1
  • musculature
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

All four words describe the ability to get others to act, but they differ in how that ability is applied. 'Power' is the broadest term — it can mean authority (political power), physical strength, or control over resources. 'Muscle' (the headword sense) specifically implies the capacity to force compliance: it connotes raw, coercive strength rather than persuasion. 'Influence' is softer and suggests shaping someone's decisions through persuasion, argument, or reputation rather than pressure. 'Clout' is more informal and is often used in business or politics; a person with clout can pull strings behind the scenes. 'Leverage' focuses on using what you already have — an advantage, a resource, or a bargaining chip — to gain something else. For example: a large investor has financial muscle to force board changes; a respected professor has influence over his students' thinking; a well-connected lobbyist has clout in the legislature; a debtor may use leverage by threatening to reveal damaging information.

power ↗influence ↗cloutleverage ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • build muscle
  • gain muscle
  • pull a muscle
  • strain a muscle
  • tear a muscle
  • flex your muscles
  • muscle pain
  • muscle strength
  • muscle mass
  • use your muscle
  • have the muscle to

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'muscle' comes from Latin 'musculus', meaning 'little mouse'. Ancient Romans thought that a flexing biceps looked like a small mouse moving under the skin. The word travelled into English through Old French in the 14th century, first used for the body tissue and later extended to mean strength or power.