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 states have modified their LLC laws to prevent that lien from being foreclosed and the interest sold.
—
Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Last May, the city filed a lawsuit to foreclose on the house over unpaid property fines going back all the way to 2004.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
The mortgage on tyranny comes due after all the papers are signed—and by then, the property has already been foreclosed.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Deen decided to keep in effect until at least May 1 a temporary restraining order that blocks efforts by a lender to foreclose on the hotel’s loan, court records show.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreclose
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.
Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Last May, the city filed a lawsuit to foreclose on the house over unpaid property fines going back all the way to 2004.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
The mortgage on tyranny comes due after all the papers are signed—and by then, the property has already been foreclosed.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Deen decided to keep in effect until at least May 1 a temporary restraining order that blocks efforts by a lender to foreclose on the hotel’s loan, court records show.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreclose
Cite this Entry
“Foreclose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreclose. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share