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

• correctly
• appropriately

Examples of properly in a Sentence

the scouts were properly dressed for a week of camping

Recent Examples on the Web

Impossible to judge him properly before then. —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

Alvar Aalto’s wiggly vase is instantly recognizable—a collectible item that will properly commemorate the special occasion. —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025

The brain’s natural clearance system for toxic species like this protein stops working properly. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

ROXi rightly mentions the importance of music rights holders being ‘properly licensed and renumerated’ – this must extend to the performance data used to create the AI presenters. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025

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