duly
Americanadverb
-
in a proper or fitting manner
-
at the proper time; punctually
Etymology
Origin of duly
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English duelich(e); see due, -ly
Explanation
When you put in a lot of overtime hours at your job, you assume you'll be duly paid. Duly means "properly" or "appropriately." When something is done duly, it's expected, and it's considered proper or right. If someone gives a great speech, you expect that he'll be duly applauded for it. The word due is at the root of duly, and it comes from the Old French word deu, or "to owe." Something that is duly given can also be said to be owed. Be careful not to confuse duly, which rhymes with the name "Julie," with dully, "without liveliness."
Vocabulary lists containing duly
Animal Farm
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"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
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13th Amendment (1865)
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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.
Gina said she told Jacob she even wanted her engagement ring to be from a charity shop - and he duly obliged by spotting a "beautiful" piece in the Hope House store on Frodsham Street.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Nothing in the Constitution, he concludes, forces the conclusion that “after officers have been duly appointed . . . the President must be able to terminate the appointments and rescind the commissions at will.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Ashdown duly received the not entirely flattering nickname of "Viceroy of Bosnia".
From BBC ● May 11, 2026
"Once there, the crew and passengers will be duly examined, cared for, and transferred to their respective countries," it said.
From Barron's ● May 5, 2026
The square is one of the simplest figures of geometry, and it was duly revered by the Pythagoreans.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
