Definition

1. Verb:
   • To take legal action to terminate a mortgagor's right to redeem a property: This meaning refers specifically to the legal process where a lender seizes a property because the borrower has failed to make the required mortgage payments.
   • To prevent something from happening; to rule out or make impossible: This more general meaning refers to the act of excluding an option or preventing an event or action from occurring.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Legal sense):

  • The bank had to foreclose on the house after the owner missed twelve consecutive payments.
  • If you default on your loan, the lender can foreclose.

• Verb (General sense):

  • His prior commitment foreclosed any possibility of him attending the meeting.
  • The new evidence foreclosed the earlier theory.

Advanced Usage

• "to foreclose on": This phrasal construction is almost always used with the preposition "on" when referring to the legal seizure of property.

  • The company foreclosed on the commercial building.

• "to foreclose the possibility of": A common phrase using the general meaning.

  • The sudden storm foreclosed the possibility of a picnic.

Variants and Related Words

• Foreclosure (n): The legal process or instance of foreclosing.

  • The family faced foreclosure on their home.

• Foreclosable (adj): Capable of being foreclosed.

  • The debt was foreclosable under the terms of the contract.

Synonyms

• Seize (for the legal sense): To take possession of by legal authority.
• Preclude (for the general sense): To prevent from happening; to make impossible.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Foreclose on: As shown in advanced usage, this is the standard construction for the legal action.
  • They warned they would foreclose on the property.

Related Idioms

• To foreclose all options: To eliminate every possible alternative or course of action.
  • The sudden budget cuts foreclosed all options for expansion.

Verb

1. subject to foreclosing procedures; take away the right of mortgagors to redeem their mortgage
2. keep from happening or arising; make impossible
   • My sense of tact forbids an honest answer
   • Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project