properly

adverb

prop·​er·​ly ˈprä-pər-lē How to pronounce properly (audio)
: 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

Examples of properly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The electric blue of Florida’s keys provide a fresh, picturesque backdrop to a lot of B movie pulp, but the rest is properly familiar. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024 In historic cases where waste operations haven’t been properly managed, the costs have been severe. Chloe Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 But the cargo of these nine C-130s, if landed and distributed properly, could be the difference between life and death for thousands, at least for a few days. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024 But the 12-month period exists to make sure everything is set up properly. Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2024 Defense attorneys argued that problems on the set were beyond Gutierrez-Reed's control and that the main supplier of ammunition had not been properly investigated. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 Nena Nix, 40, is charged with a class E felony after disposing of a corpse near the intersection of Duncan Road and Sweeney Road in Jackson County on Feb. 3, prosecutors allege, without properly reporting the location of the body to police. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Getting kids properly dressed for cold weather isn’t always easy, but at least you can be prepared with a comfortable, warm, and lightweight coat that fits them. Casey Clark, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024 Not classifying contractors and employees properly also creates internal risks. Pavel Shynkarenko, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'properly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of properly was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near properly

Cite this Entry

“Properly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/properly. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on properly

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