escrow

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   Money or property held by a neutral third party until the conditions of a deal are met.

   Grammar: Uncountable, so no plural and no 'an' before it: 'in escrow', 'hold the money in escrow'.

   Patterns

   • hold something in escrow
   • be held in escrow
   • pay money into escrow
   • release something from escrow

   The buyer's deposit is held in escrow until the inspection is complete.

   We put the funds into escrow while the two sides argued over the contract.

   The bank will release the money from escrow once the title is transferred.

2. 2noununcountablelegal

   The legal arrangement in which a neutral third party holds something until conditions are met.

   Grammar: Used as a singular concept, often with 'through' or 'by': 'buy a house through escrow'.

   Patterns

   • through escrow
   • an escrow account
   • an escrow agreement

   The sale went through escrow without any problems.

   Both parties signed an escrow agreement naming the lawyer as the holder.

   In some states, a real estate agent can open an escrow account for the deal.

Common combinations

in escrow

The keys stay in escrow until the final payment clears.

escrow account

The lender set up an escrow account for property taxes.

escrow agent

An escrow agent makes sure neither side can take the money early.

release from escrow

They released the deposit from escrow after the deal closed.

Synonyms and how they differ

trust

Trust is a broader legal arrangement for managing assets; escrow is narrower and lasts only until a deal's conditions are met.

deposit

A deposit is the money itself paid up front; escrow is the holding arrangement that keeps it safe.

Word family

escrow verb

To place money or documents with a neutral third party: 'They escrowed the funds.'

Commonly confused: escrow or trust?

Practice

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