Proportional means having a consistent relationship where things change together in a predictable way. When two quantities are proportional, if one doubles, the other doubles too. If one triples, the other triples. They grow or shrink in sync, maintaining the same ratio.

Think about buying apples at the store. If one apple costs 50 cents, two apples cost a dollar, and four apples cost two dollars. The cost is proportional to the number of apples: double the apples, double the price. That's a proportional relationship.

In mathematics, you might see problems asking if quantities are proportional. If a recipe calls for 2 cups of flour for every 3 cups of sugar, that ratio stays the same no matter how much you make. Double the recipe? You need 4 cups of flour and 6 cups of sugar. The ingredients remain proportional.

The word also describes fairness in size or scale. If a punishment seems proportional to the offense, it matches the seriousness of what someone did. A small mistake might earn a gentle reminder, while a serious problem requires a more significant consequence. When something is disproportionate, it's out of balance: too much or too little for the situation. A proportional response fits what actually happened.