How to Use properly in a Sentence

properly

adverb
  • It was left in a damp pile or didn't dry properly.
    — Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 4 Apr. 2026
  • But what’s even worse is when the lid doesn’t close properly.
    — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Learn how to properly thaw frozen pipes, and how to avoid them in the first place.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
  • My mentor showed me how to properly glide and all of that stuff.
    — Griselda Flores, Billboard, 30 May 2025
  • If done properly, stump grinding is not bad for the soil.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Cooked onions can be frozen for up to a year so long as they are wrapped and stored properly.
    — Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
  • When properly taken care of, this steel will last you for years.
    — Michelle Love, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2023
  • We’re taught how to embrace it and use it properly.
    — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Pet waste must be picked up and disposed of properly.
    — Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 17 June 2026
  • All parts of the plant must be bagged up and disposed of properly in the garbage.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2023
  • Your body needs water to help fiber work properly.
    — Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Growing food properly does take more time and care.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The good news is that pimiento cheese keeps well when it's stored properly.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 27 June 2026
  • If stored properly, potatoes can last for three months or more.
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Berries can last up to five days if stored properly stored, says Tiess.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
  • When properly stored in the fridge, guacamole is safe to eat for up to three days.
    — Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2025
  • Skunks dig up yards and can spray pets and kids if they are not handled properly.
    — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 1 July 2026
  • Not nerves, but his heart was not pumping properly.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The track was built properly, with the fencing, the walls.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Derma rollers must be cleaned properly and not overused.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
  • And if not used properly, that can spell trouble.
    — Adam Del Rosso, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
  • They’re not being fed properly, if at all.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
  • Plenty more pieces still need to be put in place to frame this one properly, of course.
    — Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The side case latch hooks may not snap properly into the lock which can cause the lid to open.
    — USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
  • Not when used properly, but always test first.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026
  • It may not be heated properly or may be sitting out too long.
    — Natalie Compton, Washington Post, 5 July 2024
  • Therefore, they should be properly stored in a place where they can be kept safe from mildew and pests.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Hand sinks in kitchen not draining properly.
    — Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The time to move circles properly reduces as the game goes on.
    — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • Start the four together in a blender so the mint is properly blitzed.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 10 June 2026

Some of 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.

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