foreclose

About 0.30 uses per million words.

Meaning

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

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

2. verb To cut off (a mortgager) by a judgment of court from the power of redeeming the mortgaged premises.
3. verb To shut up or out; to prevent from doing something.

Similar words

forbid preclude prevent forestall mortgage capture prohibit exclude seize impede

Often followed by

the on a any and his this or all

Word family

foreclosed forecloses foreclosing