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
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 
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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
Dictionary Entries Near foreclose
Cite this Entry
“Foreclose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreclose. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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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