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

With the order expected to be fought in the court system, Winfrey says her team's focus is to ensure that each Detroiter's voice is heard and properly counted by using affidavits verifying each voter and extending early voting hours for access. —Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026

Rather, it can be implemented as a small part of a larger set of healthy habits that keep your gut functioning properly. —Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2026

The condition occurs when valves in certain veins do not function properly, causing blood to pool. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

Thus, the laser likely couldn’t perform properly, making the comparison to the oil unreliable. —Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 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