Properly means doing something the right way, the way it's supposed to be done. When you tie your shoes properly, you make a secure knot that won't come undone while you run. When a scientist conducts an experiment properly, she follows all the correct procedures so her results will be accurate and meaningful.

The word suggests doing something correctly, thoroughly, and often with care. A job done properly meets the standards that matter. If you clean your room properly, you don't just shove everything under the bed. You put books on shelves, clothes in drawers, and trash in the bin.

Sometimes people use properly to emphasize doing the complete job. A coach might say, “If you're going to practice, practice properly,” meaning give it real effort and focus, not just go through the motions. When your teacher asks you to properly show your work on a math problem, she wants to see each step clearly written out.

The word can also describe behaving in a socially acceptable way. Acting properly at a formal dinner means using good manners and following etiquette. But this meaning is a bit old-fashioned now. Modern English speakers more often use properly to emphasize doing things correctly and completely.