Synonyms

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.

Another said: "One of the best things I've seen today! Properly uplifting!"

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Properly applied, it allows capable people to meet standards they would otherwise be unable to reach.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

You could launch the Properly Valued Companies ETF, which does not buy the stock of car companies that have regularly traded at a price of more than 200 times their earnings per share.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2025

Properly understood, culture is not a passive backdrop to “real life” but an active domain where communities articulate their shared meanings.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2025

Properly infuriated, the Laughing Man pushed off his mask with his tongue and confronted the Dufarges with his naked face by moonlight Mile.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

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