1
a
: referring to one individual only
b
: belonging to one : own
c
: appointed for the liturgy of a particular day
d
: represented heraldically in natural color
2
: belonging characteristically to a species or individual : peculiar
3
chiefly dialectal
: good-looking, handsome
4
: very good : excellent
6
: strictly limited to a specified thing, place, or idea
the city proper
7
8
: marked by suitability, rightness, or appropriateness : fit
9
: being a mathematical subset (such as a subgroup) that does not contain all the elements of the inclusive set from which it is derived
properness
noun
1
: the parts of the Mass that vary according to the liturgical calendar
2
: the part of a missal or breviary containing the proper of the Mass and the offices proper to the holy days of the liturgical year
chiefly dialectal
: in a thorough manner : completely
Synonyms
Examples of proper in a Sentence
Adjective
It is not proper to speak that way.
The children need to learn proper behavior.
It would not be proper for you to borrow the ladder without asking first.
She is a very prim and proper young lady.
Is this the proper spelling of your name?
You need to eat a proper meal instead of junk food.
Each step must be done in the proper order.
Adverb
They beat us good and proper.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Creators will have to complete a questionnaire for each project in advance so that Roblox can ensure proper categorization.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
This season has been up and down in a lot of ways (Kristen’s effectiveness as a host, the vagueness of certain challenges, the seeming conspiracy to get Soo from Last Chance Kitchen onto Top Chef proper), but Danny, Dan, and Savannah have each had little paths of glory.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 June 2024
Daniel Gordis, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2011
Phoenix proper gets only about one-third of its water from the Colorado River.
—Daniel Rothberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proper 
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Adjective
Also helpful is the kind of peer pressure among veterans who lead by example in terms of getting the proper amount of rest and recovery.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Creators will have to complete a questionnaire for each project in advance so that Roblox can ensure proper categorization.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
TikTok Lite, a basic version of TikTok proper, offered to pay users several cents a day for watching videos.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
This season has been up and down in a lot of ways (Kristen’s effectiveness as a host, the vagueness of certain challenges, the seeming conspiracy to get Soo from Last Chance Kitchen onto Top Chef proper), but Danny, Dan, and Savannah have each had little paths of glory.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 June 2024
Adverb
His refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state or to drop his demand for the right of return for Palestinian refugees into Israel proper made clear that the conflict is not about to be resolved.
—Daniel Gordis, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2011
Phoenix proper gets only about one-third of its water from the Colorado River.
—Daniel Rothberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for proper
Articles Related to proper
Dictionary Entries Near proper
Cite this Entry
“Proper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proper. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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