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

• appositely
• appropriately
• congruously
• correctly
• duly
• fittingly
• happily
• meetly
• right
• rightly
• suitably

Examples of properly in a Sentence

the scouts were properly dressed for a week of camping

Recent Examples on the Web

New micro-schools may be a solution for a one-size-fits-all education system that many Black parents say doesn't serve their children properly. —Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 17 July 2024

At a hearing in the Baldwin trial on Friday, Morrissey argued that the report was not helpful to Gutierrez Reed, as her defense was that the gun was working properly. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 July 2024

Some restaurants have been forced to close temporarily because the A/C isn’t working properly. —Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2024

Steven Hawkins Security failure Kew Gardens: With all due respect to the Secret Service personnel who risk their lives to protect their designee, there was a failure to properly evaluate the perimeter. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

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