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

There are no drive modes to choose from, no touchscreen to poke around on in order to get everything set up properly. — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026

Maintaining the correct air pressure also helps tires wear properly and perform as intended. — Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026

General Motors Inside, however, things have gone properly modern. — New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026

The operator was unsure how to properly wash, rinse and sanitize dishes. — Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 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