foreclose

verb

fore·​close (ˌ)fȯr-ˈklōz How to pronounce foreclose (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tribal members can have trouble getting financing when a bank asks for collateral like real estate, as most tribal lands are held in trust by the federal government and cannot be sold or foreclosed. Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024 Yet their dangerously unquestioned need to counter or even beat China in region after region across the globe is not only reactionary but also subordinates U.S. interests to a fight that drains resources and goodwill while foreclosing opportunities for cooperation and peaceful coexistence. Nancy Okail, Foreign Affairs, 3 Dec. 2024 The signing of Snell, however, probably forecloses World Series hero Walker Buehler from returning to the club as a free agent. Dan Freedman, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 Former owners must file these claims with foreclosing governmental units, which are counties in most cases. Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for foreclose 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of foreclose was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near foreclose

Cite this Entry

“Foreclose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreclose. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

foreclose

verb
fore·​close (ˈ)fōr-ˈklōz How to pronounce foreclose (audio)
(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 How to pronounce foreclose (audio)

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

More from Merriam-Webster on foreclose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!