verb
foreclose
faw-KLOHZ
Foreclose (verb) means to take legal action to repossess property when a borrower has failed to keep up mortgage payments. Example: “The bank foreclosed on the house after months of missed payments.”
verb
1
To take legal action to repossess property when a borrower has failed to keep up mortgage payments.
"The bank foreclosed on the house after months of missed payments."
"They have to move out of their house because the bank foreclosed on their mortgage."
2
To prevent or rule out a possibility in advance.
"to foreclose the possibility completely. she packed the footwell of the passenger seat with her duffel bag and camping gear and buckled a stack of seed trays on to the seat."
— Eleanor Catton, Birnam Wood (2023)
"His early decision foreclosed any chance of compromise."
How to use foreclose
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take back a property over unpaid debt, or more generally, to rule something out.
Common pairings
foreclose on a house
foreclose a possibility
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- forecloses
- Past tense
- foreclosed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bank _____ on the house after months of missed payments.
Etymology
From Old French forclore ("to exclude"), from for- ("outside") + clore ("to close").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for foreclose
See all rhymes for foreclose →Frequently asked questions
What does “foreclose” mean?
The word “foreclose” means to take legal action to repossess property when a borrower has failed to keep up mortgage payments. In plain terms, to take back a property over unpaid debt, or more generally, to rule something out.
How do you pronounce “foreclose”?
“Foreclose” is pronounced faw-KLOHZ (/fɔɹˈkloʊz/ in IPA).
How do you use “foreclose” in a sentence?
Here is “foreclose” used in a sentence: “The bank foreclosed on the house after months of missed payments.”
What part of speech is “foreclose”?
“Foreclose” is a verb.
Where does the word “foreclose” come from?
The word “foreclose” comes from Old French. From Old French forclore ("to exclude"), from for- ("outside") + clore ("to close").
How many meanings does “foreclose” have?
“Foreclose” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take legal action to repossess property when a borrower has failed to keep up mortgage payments.
