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

Once the mantra is created, every employee must know it, memorize it, learn how their role in the organization plays into it, and then be properly trained to it. —Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Raw oysters can be the source of infection, and should be properly cooked to reduce this risk. —Heidi Cope, Health, 22 Jan. 2026

In a pinch, bare metal pans can give you that deep caramelization—just grease properly before using to prevent a frustrating cleanup. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026

With a tiny team, a day job and the occasional teaching gig, Wicks has found that maintaining the app to the degree in which it can be properly released has not been feasible. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 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