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

Skunks dig up yards and can spray pets and kids if they are not handled properly. — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 1 July 2026

Linen is renowned for being both light and durable, lasting for years if properly cared for. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2026

Be sure to separate and sort your laundry properly to avoid overloading. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026

Wright was a native of rural Wisconsin, but needed to be in a major city to properly work as an architect. — Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 1 July 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