Standard Lemma guide

foreclose

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /fɔːˈkləʊz/
  • Canada, General-American: /fɔɹˈkloʊz/
  • Australian: /foːˈkləʉz/
  • Australian: /ˌfoːˈklɐʉz/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • New-Zealand: /foːˈklɐʉz/
  • rhymes with -əʊz
  • CMU ARPABET: F AO0 R K L OW1 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To repossess a mortgaged property whose owner has failed to make the necessary payments; used with on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: law

Examples

  • They have to move out of their house because the bank foreclosed on their mortgage.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cut off (a mortgager) by a judgment of court from the power of redeeming the mortgaged premises.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To shut up or out; to prevent from doing something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Qualifier: originally

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stop, prevent, bar, exclude

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

subject to foreclosing procedures; take away the right of mortgagors to redeem their mortgage

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reclaim, repossess

5

verb

Meaning 5

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • My sense of tact forbids an honest answer
  • Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: prevent, forestall, preclude, forbid

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: save, make unnecessary, debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off, obstruct, blockade, block, hinder, stymie, stymy, embarrass, thwart, queer, spoil, scotch, foil, cross, frustrate, baffle, bilk, stop, halt, kibosh

History

Etymology

Partially from Middle English foreclosen, forclosen, from Old French forclos, past participle of forclore (“to exclude”), from for- (“(prefix used to express error, exclusion, or inadequacy)”) + clore (“to shut”), and partially from Middle English forclusen (“to close up”), from Old English forclȳsan (“to close up”), equivalent to fore- + close.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: взимам обратно (vzimam obratno) — to repossess
  • Chinese Mandarin: 終止回贖權 /终止回赎权 (zhōngzhǐ huíshúquán) — to repossess
  • Chinese Mandarin: 沒收 /没收 (mòshōu) — to repossess
  • Chinese Mandarin: 收回 (shōuhuí) — to repossess
  • Danish: tvangsauktionere — to repossess
  • Finnish: lunastaa — to repossess
  • French: saisir — to repossess
  • German: zwangsvollstrecken — to repossess
  • Māori: taumanu — to repossess
  • Polish: przejmować niespłaconą własność — to repossess
  • Polish: przejąć niespłaconą własność — to repossess
  • Spanish: embargar — to repossess
  • Chinese Mandarin: 取消贖回權 /取消赎回权 — to cut off
  • Finnish: sulkea — to cut off
  • Polish: wykluczać — to cut off
  • Polish: wykluczyć — to cut off
  • Bulgarian: изключвам (izključvam) — to prevent from doing something
  • Bulgarian: не давам възможност (ne davam vǎzmožnost) — to prevent from doing something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 禁止 (jìnzhǐ) — to prevent from doing something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 阻止 (zǔzhǐ) — to prevent from doing something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 關閉 /关闭 (guānbì) — to prevent from doing something
  • Finnish: estää — to prevent from doing something
  • Finnish: ehkäistä — to prevent from doing something
  • German: verhindern — to prevent from doing something
  • Polish: wykluczać — to prevent from doing something
  • Polish: wykluczyć — to prevent from doing something
  • Spanish: evitar — to prevent from doing something
  • Spanish: impedir — to prevent from doing something