properly

American

[prop-er-lee] / ˈprɒp ər li /

adverb

in a way that is appropriate to the purpose or circumstances; suitably.

Students should ensure that a current valid parking permit is properly displayed on their vehicle.
correctly.

His recent statement gave the wrong impression and does not properly reflect where he stands on the issue.
in a way that conforms to established standards of behavior or manners.

They usually dress very properly, but sometimes a bit daringly, hoping to start the latest new trend.

Other Word Forms

unproperly

adverb

Etymology

Origin of properly

proper ( def. ) + -ly

Vocabulary lists containing properly

Excerpt from "The Diary of a Young Girl"

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When these genes stop working properly or are present at low levels, cancer risk can rise.

From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026

When Rhaenyra insisted that Aegon had to die for her to properly claim victory, Alicent agreed.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

He added that he puts no stock in calls for a pause in AI development to properly weigh the technology's dangers, issued in early June by American giants including OpenAI and Anthropic.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

They said if the guard had been properly designed and maintained, it was likely it would have prevented Thwaites's death.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

“I’m sorry, we haven’t been properly introduced,” Inés said, as she extended a hand to us.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023