properly

adverb

prop·​er·​ly ˈprä-pər-lē 

: in a proper manner:

a

: in an acceptable or suitable way

behaving properly

trying to get the system to work properly

"Oh yes, I am not at all ashamed of it. I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly."

—Jane Austen

b

: in an accurate or correct way

It might more properly be termed a musical device than a musical form.

—Aaron Copland

Scoop out the seeds (properly called arils, a botanical term that includes the tiny actual seeds and the juicy, edible pulp around them).

—David Karp

Synonyms of properly

• correctly
• appropriately

Examples of properly in a Sentence

the scouts were properly dressed for a week of camping

Recent Examples on the Web

The investigation concluded that the actions of a Connecticut Department of Correction officer who allegedly did not properly monitor Guaranda were negligent but did not rise to the level of criminal behavior, Prescott wrote. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

When eating shellfish and oysters, people should also ensure that the products have been cooked and prepared properly to reduce the chances of infection. — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

And of course, the last thing crew members did was make sure their parachutes—fortunately never used—were packed properly. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Alosco said there are many similarities between Alzheimer’s and CTE because both are degenerative brain diseases, but there are also some key differences, and mapping out those discrepancies is key to figuring out a way to diagnose CTE properly. — David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for properly

• improperly

Kids Definition

properly

adverb

prop·​er·​ly

ˈpräp-ər-lē

1

: in a fit or suitable way

behave properly in church

2

: according to fact : correctly

properly labeled goods

properly speaking, whales are not fish