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 brand recommends washing the towels separately in warm water without bleach or fabric softener and tumble drying them on a low heat setting to care for them properly. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 Disability advocates have long criticized L.A. Unified for not properly managing its existing system of IEPs, but that isn’t stopping Carvalho from making the general idea universal. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Khan said that the industry is committed to safety, but mistakes can happen, especially if staff are overworked or not properly trained. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 For issues that affect huge swathes of areas like pollution or radiation, which can only be properly measured at scale, that kind of mass data collection can be vital. Andrew Kersley, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024 Prevent spread while camping or hiking by drinking and cooking with only clean water; keeping food away from bathroom areas, preparing and cooking food properly and washing your hands with soap and water. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 First, Renaud honed in on the micro-rotor’s key weakness: to function properly, the micro-rotor, in its current design, requires a large amplitude of movement to produce energy. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 Protect your home The overall message from Izon and other exterminators is to ensure your home is sealed properly, from door jams and window seals to sink and shower drains and toilets. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 16 Mar. 2024 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

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 28 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

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