🧺 To bend over 🏦 To close down 📄 A crease 👥 A group 🥄 To mix gently 🐑 An animal pen 🐑 To pen animals

to fold

72 5.3

Close a business because it cannot pay its costs

verb
/foʊld/

: cerrar

Of course, if my career folds, then we'd have to think again, but...

You saw the Uber ATG fold into Aurora.

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Examples

The Atlanta bank they named was a savings and loan that folded three years ago. "Beautiful," I said.

Fiction book (1992)
Besides, I think they're ready to fold.

Freejack (1992)
"Robert wants the paper to fold so he'll have an excuse to leave.

Fiction book (1999)
This whole town's ready to fold.

The Blob (1988)
If I knew this would happen, I would have folded the company... ...when my father died.

Splinter (2023)
You know that if we don't expand, we'll fold, so this may be our best option.

Fiction book (1994)
Bear Stearns, the fifth largest investment bank, almost folded in March.

Academic text (2008)
The restaurant had to fold after failing to attract enough customers.
After years of losses, the small business finally decided to fold its operations.
Many companies fold during tough economic times, unable to recover from financial setbacks.

Synonyms

to shut down

vsto fold

∞ 2.9

Stop a machine, business, or system from working

is focused on permanent closure caused by financial insolvency

to collapse

vsto fold

645 3.9

To fall down suddenly, for example when a person faints or a building breaks

is narrower, meaning stop because of money problems rather than sudden general breakdown

to close down

vsto fold

175 2.9

To stop operating permanently, like a shop or company

implies the stop happens because the organisation cannot afford to continue

to fail

vsto fold

Specialized

84 5.1

Go out of business and stop operating

describes stopping due to money problems rather than other causes

to close up

vsto fold

77 3.5

To stop a shop or business from operating

specifies stopping mainly due to financial failure rather than temporary reasons

to go under

vsto fold

51 4.4

Fail because of money problems

is the term for stopping that often implies financial reasons

to belly up

vsto fold

Informal

22 7.9

Stop operating because it has run out of money

is the standard expression for stopping because of financial failure

to go belly up

vsto fold

Informal

18 5.3

To fail completely and close, especially a business or project

is the neutral term used for stopping because of serious money problems

to close its doors

vsto fold

11 4.0

To permanently stop operating as a business or organization

is specifically used when closure results from money problems

to fold up

vsto fold

3 4.4

Close a shop or business and stop trading

is used specifically when closure follows financial failure

to fall apart like a house of cards

vsto fold

Informal

1 6.5

Suddenly fail completely because it is weak or badly built

is used when an organisation stops mainly due to money problems rather than weak design

Antonyms

to thrive

233 3.2

To grow well and be successful

to prosper

85 3.7

To become successful or grow well, often by making money

Idioms

to fold like a cheap suit

Informal

1 9.6

To give in easily when under pressure

to fold one's tent

8.8

To stop trying and leave a situation quietly

Phrasal Verbs

to fold up

33 3.0

Bend something, like a map or blanket, so it becomes small for storage

to fold up

3 4.4

Close a shop or business and stop trading

Compounds

vocal fold

Specialized

1 6.3

A thin piece of tissue in the throat that vibrates to make sound

accordion fold

1 5.5

A way of folding paper that makes a zig-zag, often for maps or brochures

protective fold

1 7.7

A layer of skin or tissue that covers and keeps a nearby body part safe

epicanthic fold

Specialized

1 8.8

Skin fold at the inner corner of the eye common in many East Asian people and some health conditions

bi-fold door

1 3.4

A door with two panels that fold to one side to save space

concertina fold

Specialized

1 6.7

A pattern where paper, cloth, or rock is bent back and forth like an accordion

inferior vocal fold

Specialized

1 9.0

Lower band of tissue in the throat that makes sound when air passes between the two bands

vestibular fold

Specialized

1 8.5

A fold of tissue in the voice box that protects the airway and does not make speech sounds

false vocal fold

Specialized

8.4

One of two thin pieces of tissue above the voice box that do not make sound

true vocal fold

Specialized

7.0

Thin bands of tissue in the voice box that vibrate to make voice when air passes between them

ventricular fold

Specialized

9.5

A thin piece of tissue in the throat above the vocal cords that usually does not make sound

z-fold

Specialized

8.8

A way of bending paper to make a zigzag shape like an accordion, often used in brochures and maps

zig-zag fold

6.7

A series of paper folds that go back and forth like the letter Z

How Permanent

to liquidate

Specialized

22 7.3

to fold

72 5.3

to close

∞ 1.0

to suspend

228 3.9

to downscale

1 4.3

Surface Forms

fold infinitive

folded past

folded past participle

folding present participle

folds third person singular

Etymology

Fold A helpful way to remember a business that 'folds' is to think of folding up a shop or tent; when a company 'folds' it 'closes up' and stops operating.