properly

[ prop-er-lee ]

/ ˈprɒp ər li /

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See synonyms for properly on Thesaurus.com

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.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of properly

proper + -ly

OTHER WORDS FROM properly

un·prop·er·ly, adverb

Words nearby properly

proper, proper adjective, properdin, proper fraction, proper function, properly, proper motion, proper noun, propertied, properties, proper time

How to use properly in a sentence

Simply select your state from the drop-down menu and it’ll take you to the proper page.
Why you should vote as early as possible (and how to do it)|John Kennedy|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
Now, with the “Top Stories” becoming available to non-AMP pages, there’s virtually no reason to jeopardize the users’ security for speed gains you could get by proper optimization.
Google ranking factors to change search in 2021: Core Web Vitals, E-A-T, or AMP?|Aleh Barysevich|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Watch
At least two relatives got sick after being denied the proper protective gear.
The Hospital System Sent Patients With Coronavirus Home to Die. Louisiana Legislators Are Demanding an Investigation.|by Annie Waldman and Joshua Kaplan|September 14, 2020|ProPublica
If they can store the sample in a proper container and send pictures and data to NASA to prove the sample has been collected and can be brought to Earth safely, NASA will pay that company between $15,000 and $25,000.
NASA will pay for moon rocks excavated by private companies|Neel Patel|September 10, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Once you’re on your state’s domain, simply follow the directions and fill in the proper fields to find out if you’re on the voter rolls.
It’s time to check your voter registration—here’s how|John Kennedy|September 10, 2020|Popular-Science
I wouldn't, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Patriots fans didn't properly comprehend the mechanics of sex, either.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Had they been properly trained, they could and should have flown themselves safely out of the emergency.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Apparently, the company “failed to properly test its systems.”
Best Buy Punches Back at Amazon|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the phrase “made it” does not properly describe Pomplamoose.
How Much Money Does a Band Really Make on Tour?|Jack Conte|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At 5:00 a.m. the clubs get going properly; the Forbes stumble down from their loggias, grinning and swaying tipsily.
Russia’s Gold Digger Academy|Peter Pomerantsev|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If properly dried and pressed, it is possible to preserve the Fern fronds with a great deal of their natural colour.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
She had been properly dressed for the occasion in black tulle and black silk tights.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
But Mill might have said the same thing about the price of a music box, provided it was properly patented, anywhere at all.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
The petition must be signed and properly verified, and may be afterward amended for cause in the interest of justice.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
No society is properly organized until every child that is born into it shall have an opportunity in life.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock