prop ‧ er ‧ ly S1 W2 /ˈprɒpəli $ ˈprɑːpərli/ BrE AmE adverb
1 . especially British English correctly, or in a way that is considered right SYN right American English :
The brakes don’t seem to be working properly.
Then he’s not doing his job properly.
Parents should teach their children to behave properly in public.
properly trained staff
2 . especially British English completely or fully SYN thoroughly :
Is the chicken properly defrosted?
The allegations were never properly investigated.
3 . formal really:
Documents properly belonging to the family were taken away.
properly speaking British English (=really)
It isn’t, properly speaking, a real science.
4 . used to say that someone is right to do something SYN rightly
quite/very/perfectly properly
People are, quite properly, proud of their homes.