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 core bargain in the framework would have entailed Ukraine embracing permanent neutrality, foreclosing its possible membership in NATO, in return for ironclad security guarantees.
—
Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2025
One in four workers was jobless, and 20,000 farms were being foreclosed monthly.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025
Now his lender is foreclosing on the properties, demanding to take control of two dozen ready-to-move-in houses and prime vacant lots because Cox has failed to repay a $43 million debt.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
Detroit has a land bank, a public agency that manages vacant and foreclosed properties.
—Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 14 May 2025
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Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2025
One in four workers was jobless, and 20,000 farms were being foreclosed monthly.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025
Now his lender is foreclosing on the properties, demanding to take control of two dozen ready-to-move-in houses and prime vacant lots because Cox has failed to repay a $43 million debt.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
Detroit has a land bank, a public agency that manages vacant and foreclosed properties.
—Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 14 May 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 3 Jun. 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
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