foreclose
verb
fore·close
(ˌ)fȯr-ˈklōz 
foreclosed; foreclosing; forecloses
1
: to shut out : preclude
2
: to hold exclusively
3
: to deal with or close in advance
4
: to subject to foreclosure proceedings
: 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
Many veterans have to choose between selling their house, getting foreclosed on, or accepting a much higher-cost mortgage.
—
Quil Lawrence, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026
Sentara's Kafka said the hospital chain doesn't garnish wages, seize savings or foreclose on properties.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
But the developer’s lender foreclosed on the asset last year, and the project remains empty and unfinished.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Tit-for-tat attacks on oil and gas sites across the Middle East in recent days have all but foreclosed that glide path, since repairs could stretch on for months and diminish fuel supply in the meantime, industry analysts told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foreclose
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Quil Lawrence, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026
Sentara's Kafka said the hospital chain doesn't garnish wages, seize savings or foreclose on properties.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
But the developer’s lender foreclosed on the asset last year, and the project remains empty and unfinished.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Tit-for-tat attacks on oil and gas sites across the Middle East in recent days have all but foreclosed that glide path, since repairs could stretch on for months and diminish fuel supply in the meantime, industry analysts told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foreclose
Cite this Entry
“Foreclose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreclose. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
-ˈklō-zhər
Legal Definition
foreclose
verb
fore·close
fōr-ˈklōz
: to subject to foreclosure proceedings
: 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
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