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
Inspired by a trip to South Africa in which Kendrick visited Nelson Mandela’s cell, the cautiously optimistic track extols the work of perseverance, citing previous Black struggles as evidence that the future is not foreclosed.
—
Stephen Kearse, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
Instead, Parkway 43 and Sky Ridge owners sued Galena and were granted a temporary injunction, preventing the properties from being foreclosed until the lawsuit is settled.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2025
As advised by Kessler, those teams refused to sign charter agreements because of (among other reasons) contractual language that would have foreclosed the chance to sue NASCAR on antitrust grounds.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2025
But that all changed a few years ago when St. Petersburg foreclosed over unpaid property liens stemming from the house demolition and maintenance.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for foreclose 
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Stephen Kearse, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
Instead, Parkway 43 and Sky Ridge owners sued Galena and were granted a temporary injunction, preventing the properties from being foreclosed until the lawsuit is settled.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2025
As advised by Kessler, those teams refused to sign charter agreements because of (among other reasons) contractual language that would have foreclosed the chance to sue NASCAR on antitrust grounds.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2025
But that all changed a few years ago when St. Petersburg foreclosed over unpaid property liens stemming from the house demolition and maintenance.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
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 16 Feb. 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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