foreclose
verb
fore·close (ˌ)fȯr-ˈklōz 
foreclosed; foreclosing; forecloses
transitive verb
1
: to shut out : preclude
2
: to hold exclusively
3
: to deal with or close in advance
4
: to subject to foreclosure proceedings
intransitive verb
: to foreclose a mortgage
Example Sentences
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 Progressives will have watched the collapse of their legislative and regulatory routes to cut carbon pollution, and the ongoing Republican backlash to corporate activism will foreclose their ability to green even their workplaces. 
Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022 But taking a deal this month may also foreclose their chance to secure historic spending to fight climate change. Tony Romm, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2022 If the films weren’t completed, the Bank of America might foreclose. Jake S. Friedman, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2022 When asset values dropped, banks were generally incentivized to sell or foreclose in the aftermath, leading property values to quickly reach their lows before beginning to recover. Dan Rosenbloom, Forbes, 5 July 2022 But that doesn’t foreclose the possibility that a lawsuit challenging the commission’s maps on the basis of partisan fairness might succeed. Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 12 Dec. 2021 Plaza Mexico entered bankruptcy last year after its then-owner, Plamex Investment, LLC, defaulted on $106 million in senior loans and $14 million in mezzanine loans and the mezzanine lender moved to foreclose. Kate King, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 The person committing the fraud brings in tenants and collects rent, sometimes for years, until banks or other lenders finally foreclose on the property. New York Times, 24 July 2022 In October 2021, after issuing Mr. Niami several extensions on his loans, Mr. Hankey filed to foreclose on The One. Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 28 July 2022 See More
Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 15 June 2022 But taking a deal this month may also foreclose their chance to secure historic spending to fight climate change. Tony Romm, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2022 If the films weren’t completed, the Bank of America might foreclose. Jake S. Friedman, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2022 When asset values dropped, banks were generally incentivized to sell or foreclose in the aftermath, leading property values to quickly reach their lows before beginning to recover. Dan Rosenbloom, Forbes, 5 July 2022 But that doesn’t foreclose the possibility that a lawsuit challenging the commission’s maps on the basis of partisan fairness might succeed. Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 12 Dec. 2021 Plaza Mexico entered bankruptcy last year after its then-owner, Plamex Investment, LLC, defaulted on $106 million in senior loans and $14 million in mezzanine loans and the mezzanine lender moved to foreclose. Kate King, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 The person committing the fraud brings in tenants and collects rent, sometimes for years, until banks or other lenders finally foreclose on the property. New York Times, 24 July 2022 In October 2021, after issuing Mr. Niami several extensions on his loans, Mr. Hankey filed to foreclose on The One. Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 28 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French forclos, past participle of forclore, forsclore, from fors outside (from Latin foris) + clore to close — more at forum
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Legal Definition
foreclose
verb
fore·close fōr-ˈklōz
transitive verb
: to subject to foreclosure proceedings
intransitive verb
: to foreclose a mortgage or other security interest compare repossess, seize sense 2