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
The White House notably did not foreclose on the possibility of supporting a Machado candidacy to lead Venezuela.
—
Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Jan. 2026
After that, the former owner and long-term tenants continued to occupy the land until it was foreclosed on and vacated in late 2024.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Transients taking shelter inside the home had been a persistent problem since the property was foreclosed on and vacated in late 2024, said Athena Novak, a representative for the owner, Andranik Sogoyan.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The Oakland Marriott City Center, a 500-room hotel in downtown Oakland, was foreclosed at $140,000 a room in July 2025.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foreclose
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Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Jan. 2026
After that, the former owner and long-term tenants continued to occupy the land until it was foreclosed on and vacated in late 2024.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Transients taking shelter inside the home had been a persistent problem since the property was foreclosed on and vacated in late 2024, said Athena Novak, a representative for the owner, Andranik Sogoyan.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The Oakland Marriott City Center, a 500-room hotel in downtown Oakland, was foreclosed at $140,000 a room in July 2025.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 5 Jan. 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 10 Jan. 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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