foreclose

verb

fore·​close (ˌ)fȯr-ˈklōz 

foreclosed; foreclosing; forecloses

transitive verb

1

: to shut out : preclude

2

: to hold exclusively

3

: to deal with or close in advance

4

: to subject to foreclosure proceedings

intransitive verb

: to foreclose a mortgage

Examples of foreclose in a Sentence

They've been unable to make their mortgage payments, and the bank has threatened to foreclose.

The bank has threatened to foreclose their mortgage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even if Borovicanin loses in Hamilton County, the ruling wouldn’t foreclose athletes in other jurisdictions from suing over the same issue. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 July 2026

The door is beginning to open, but the generation that was trained not to approach it stands at a distance, arms folded, having already foreclosed their future options. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026

In August, the lender foreclosed on the campus project and the park leasehold. — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2026

Congress must act to protect them and foreclose this issue once and for all by enacting a path to citizenship. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French forclos, past participle of forclore, forsclore, from fors outside (from Latin foris) + clore to close — more at forum

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for foreclose

• agarose
• aliquots
• amigos
• anthracnose
• bottlenose
• buffaloes
• bungalows
• calicoes
• cameos
• commandos
• conversos
• decompose

Kids Definition

foreclose

verb

fore·​close (ˈ)fōr-ˈklōz 

(ˈ)fȯr-

: to take legal measures to end a mortgage and take possession of the mortgaged property because the conditions of the mortgage have not been met

foreclosure

-ˈklō-zhər

noun

Legal Definition

foreclose

verb

fore·​close fōr-ˈklōz 

transitive verb

: to subject to foreclosure proceedings

intransitive verb

: to foreclose a mortgage or other security interest compare repossess, seize sense 2

Etymology

Anglo-French forclos, past participle of foreclore to preclude, prevent, from fors outside + clore to close