1
: a deed, a bond, money, or a piece of property held in trust by a third party to be turned over to the grantee only upon fulfillment of a condition
2
: a fund or deposit designed to serve as an escrow
escrowed; escrowing; escrows
: to place in escrow
Examples of escrow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 22 Mar. 2024
The dates of the payments to the escrow account align with Mr. Biden's trips to Nevada, Florida and New York for campaign events or fundraisers.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
According to a source close to the deal, the sellers agreed to the lowball offer because of the terms: a very short two-week escrow, all cash and with no contingencies, plus a free two-month leaseback term for them.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023
For one, younger millennials are just entering their prime homebuying years, so the larger increase in escrow payments likely comes from a lower base point (versus older millennials, who started years earlier).
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2023
In other words, the escrow and title officers would review the property’s legal history.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
However, in November, the U.S. Attorney’s office filed one criminal count of securities fraud against Adelle Ducharme, a former Chicago Title escrow officer who many Ponzi scheme investors had previously alleged was complicit in the investment fraud.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024
But there was one catch: Stephen — then 54 — would have to first cover a Mexican federal tax of $3,900 that would be held in escrow, and credited back to him when the deal closed.
—Steve Fisher, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Earlier this month, the place closed escrow at $22.5 million—roughly 32% under the original list.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023
Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2022
Buyers would escrow the difference with the U.S. Treasury.
—Patrick Jenevein, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2022
The Tailgate Park transaction must close escrow before the end of the year to remain shielded from the state’s stricter disposition laws for surplus land.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2022
The city and Padres are racing against the clock — because of state disposition laws, the transaction must close escrow by Dec. 23 or it will be aborted altogether.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2022
Starting next summer, McCarty’s AB 1466 will require Realtors, title companies and escrow companies to notify buyers of any racial covenants, as well as their right to modify them.
—Lauren Hepler, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2021
While the seller is going to get the same amount of money, many local agents say sellers will go with cash offers to make sure the purchase closes escrow.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2021
The building, which includes two other small businesses at the corner of Vista Way, has been sold to a developer who plans extensive renovations once escrow closes in August.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2021
At the very start of the pandemic, agency lenders required borrowers to escrow 18 months of property taxes and interest payments to qualify for acquisition loans.
—Lee Kiser, Forbes, 13 May 2021
Noun
Their money was supposed to be put in escrow accounts, and released to the developers when construction was completed.
—Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 22 Mar. 2024
The dates of the payments to the escrow account align with Mr. Biden's trips to Nevada, Florida and New York for campaign events or fundraisers.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
According to a source close to the deal, the sellers agreed to the lowball offer because of the terms: a very short two-week escrow, all cash and with no contingencies, plus a free two-month leaseback term for them.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023
For one, younger millennials are just entering their prime homebuying years, so the larger increase in escrow payments likely comes from a lower base point (versus older millennials, who started years earlier).
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2023
In other words, the escrow and title officers would review the property’s legal history.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
However, in November, the U.S. Attorney’s office filed one criminal count of securities fraud against Adelle Ducharme, a former Chicago Title escrow officer who many Ponzi scheme investors had previously alleged was complicit in the investment fraud.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024
But there was one catch: Stephen — then 54 — would have to first cover a Mexican federal tax of $3,900 that would be held in escrow, and credited back to him when the deal closed.
—Steve Fisher, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Earlier this month, the place closed escrow at $22.5 million—roughly 32% under the original list.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023
Verb
Even with the approval, the Tailgate Park transaction must close escrow before the end of the year to remain shielded from the state’s stricter disposition laws for surplus land.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2022
Buyers would escrow the difference with the U.S. Treasury.
—Patrick Jenevein, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2022
The Tailgate Park transaction must close escrow before the end of the year to remain shielded from the state’s stricter disposition laws for surplus land.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2022
The city and Padres are racing against the clock — because of state disposition laws, the transaction must close escrow by Dec. 23 or it will be aborted altogether.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2022
Starting next summer, McCarty’s AB 1466 will require Realtors, title companies and escrow companies to notify buyers of any racial covenants, as well as their right to modify them.
—Lauren Hepler, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2021
While the seller is going to get the same amount of money, many local agents say sellers will go with cash offers to make sure the purchase closes escrow.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2021
The building, which includes two other small businesses at the corner of Vista Way, has been sold to a developer who plans extensive renovations once escrow closes in August.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2021
At the very start of the pandemic, agency lenders required borrowers to escrow 18 months of property taxes and interest payments to qualify for acquisition loans.
—Lee Kiser, Forbes, 13 May 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'escrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near escrow
Cite this Entry
“Escrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escrow. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
escrow
1 of 2 noun
es·crow
ˈes-ˌkrō 
1
: an instrument and especially a deed or money or property held by a third party to be turned over to the grantee and become effective only upon the fulfillment of some condition
2
: a fund or deposit designed to serve as an escrow
escrow
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to cause to be held as an escrow : place in escrow
Etymology
Noun
Anglo-French escroue deed delivered on condition, literally, scroll, strip of parchment, from Old French escroe
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share