- [only before noun] (especially British English) right, appropriate or correct; according to the rules
- We should have had a proper discussion before voting.
- Please follow the proper procedures for dealing with complaints.
- Manufacturers provide these directions to indicate the proper use of their products.
- It is vital that they're given the proper training.
- The Government is failing to deliver proper care and treatment to people with dementia.
- Nothing is in its proper place.
- He is never referred to by his proper name in the play.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- consider something
- …
- very
- entirely
- perfectly
- …
- (only) right and proper
- prim and proper
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- [only before noun] (British English, informal) that you consider to be real and of a good enough standard
- I haven't had a proper meal in days.
- Eat some proper food, not just toast and jam!
- When are you going to get a proper job?
- socially and morally acceptable
- It is right and proper that parents take responsibility for their children's attendance at school.
- The development was planned without proper regard to the interests of local people.
- He is always perfectly proper in his behaviour.
Extra ExamplesTopics Personal qualitiesc2- It seemed proper to pay tribute to her in this way.
- It was not considered proper for young ladies to go out alone.
- She has a reputation for being prim and proper.
- The tribunal decided that his actions were entirely proper.
- I'll do whatever I think proper.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- consider something
- …
- very
- entirely
- perfectly
- …
- (only) right and proper
- prim and proper
- [after noun] according to the most exact meaning of the word
- The celebrations proper always begin on the last stroke of midnight.
- [only before noun] (British English, informal) complete
- We're in a proper mess now.
- proper to something (formal) belonging to a particular type of thing; natural in a particular situation or place
- They should be treated with the dignity proper to all individuals created by God.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French propre, from Latin proprius ‘one's own, special’.
Idioms
See proper in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee proper in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishgood and proper
- (British English, informal) completely; to the greatest extent possible
- That's messed things up good and proper.
Check pronunciation:
proper