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

Prosecutors said Niembro and the sanctioned person devised a plan under which Nodus would foreclose on the person’s home in Southampton, New York. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Any attempt by Congress to foreclose employment would likely attract legal challenges, given that employment and unionization at public universities are mainly governed by state law. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026

BayVanguard filed to foreclose on the property in February over a $350,000 loan issued to Delaney’s LLC, according to court records. — Christopher Scarglato, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2026

In May 2025, an AllianceBernstein affiliate foreclosed on the loan. — George Avalos, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 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