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

to fold

81 5.3
Close a business because it cannot pay its costs
  • verb
  • /foʊld/
translation icon : 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 collapse
vsto fold
579 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 shut down
vsto fold
541 2.9

Stop a machine, business, or system from working

is focused on permanent closure caused by financial insolvency
to fail
vsto fold
  • Specialized
361 5.1

Go out of business and stop operating

describes stopping due to money problems rather than other causes
to close down
vsto fold
94 2.9

To stop operating permanently, like a shop or company

implies the stop happens because the organisation cannot afford to continue
to close up
vsto fold
44 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
43 4.4

Fail because of money problems

is the term for stopping that often implies financial reasons
to close its doors
vsto fold
17 4.0

To permanently stop operating as a business or organization

is specifically used when closure results from money problems
to go belly up
vsto fold
  • Informal
15 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 belly up
vsto fold
  • Informal
7 7.9

Stop operating because it has run out of money

is the standard expression for stopping because of financial failure
to fold up
vsto fold
1 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
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
241 3.2

To grow well and be successful

to prosper
88 3.7

To become successful or grow well, often by making money

Idioms

to fold like a cheap suit
  • Informal
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
6 3.0

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

to fold up
1 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

bi-fold door
3.4

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

concertina fold
  • Specialized
6.7

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

epicanthic fold
  • Specialized
8.8

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

accordion fold
5.5

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

false vocal fold
  • Specialized
8.4

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

inferior vocal fold
  • Specialized
9.0

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

protective fold
7.7

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

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

vestibular fold
  • Specialized
8.5

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

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
25 7.3
to fold
81 5.3
to close
∞ 1.0
to suspend
141 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.