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

Entrepreneurship, when properly understood, is much more about letting curiosity, resilience, and the market lead the way. —Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

But like all produce, storing jalapeños properly is essential to maintaining their freshness and flavor. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025

The restaurant had multiple violations including employees not following proper procedures for hand washing, and health inspectors noted food not being stored and labeled properly, and dirty equipment. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Jan. 2025

In an edit to the original post, the teen reiterated that his parent’s basement is incredibly cold in January — even when the heat is on — noting that the insulation was likely never properly installed. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025

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