foreclose

/ˈfɔrˌkloʊz/

/fɔˈklʌʊz/

Other forms: foreclosed; foreclosing; forecloses

To foreclose is to prevent something from happening. If you want to foreclose any possibility of getting in a car accident, you should travel by train instead.

Foreclose comes from the Old French forclore, "exclude or shut out," which led to its sense of "bar from happening," and also the legal meaning, "bar someone from redeeming a mortgage." If a bank forecloses on a property, they take it away from the person who lives there. This typically happens once the homeowner has missed several payments on their mortgage, the money they owe after borrowing from the bank.

Definitions of foreclose

1. verb

   keep from happening or arising; make impossible
   synonyms: forbid, forestall, preclude, preempt, prevent

   types:

   make unnecessary, save

   make unnecessary an expenditure or effort

   avert, avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, obviate, stave off, ward off

   prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening

   block, blockade, embarrass, hinder, obstruct, stymie, stymy

   hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

   baffle, bilk, confound, cross, foil, frustrate, queer, scotch, scuttle, spoil, thwart

   hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

   block, halt, kibosh, stop

   stop from happening or developing

   stonewall

   obstruct or hinder any discussion

   disappoint, let down

   fail to meet the hopes or expectations of

   embargo

   prevent commerce

   filibuster

   obstruct deliberately by delaying

   check

   block or impede (a player from the opposing team) in ice hockey

   hang

   prevent from reaching a verdict, of a jury

   bottleneck

   slow down or impede by creating an obstruction

   dash

   destroy or break

   short-circuit

   hamper the progress of; impede

   ruin

   destroy or cause to fail

   stay

   stop a judicial process
2. verb

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

   reclaim, repossess

   claim back