proper

Examples

• All

• We first explore whether there is consensus regarding the proper purpose and role of assessment in community colleges.

  Academic text (2011)

• You know, that's the proper way to act.

• We can all agree this is the proper source of law, right?

• We have to find the proper balance within the team.

• We are willing to share the tool as long as proper credit is given.

  Academic text (2011)

• For example, public works engineers ensure proper street function and traffic flow.

  Academic text (2008)

• I think the first thing is to have a proper diagnosis.

  Matthew Hussey

• It's altogether fitting and proper that I should do this.

  Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012)

• The teacher needs to communicate clearly to pupils the proper rules for learning and enforce these regulations.

  Academic text (1999)

• At least these ladies understood that it was proper form to order bottled water.

  Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

R

right

vsproper

∞ 1.0

Correct or most suitable for a situation

focuses more on general fitness for a situation

A

appropriate

vsproper

962 3.5

Right for a particular situation, person, or purpose

is broader, applying to many types of fitting in life

L

legitimate

vsproper

602 4.2

Allowed by law or fair rules

is more general, covering social and moral fitting rather than law

A

acceptable

vsproper

477 2.5

Good enough for a particular use or standard

is stronger, stressing full fitness rather than mere adequacy

D

decent

vsproper

305 1.6

Socially acceptable and proper for a situation

is about overall suitability, not only moral acceptability

C

correct

vsproper

282 1.0

Suitable for a particular situation or purpose

is about being the usual good choice for a situation

S

suitable

vsproper

172 1.8

Right for a certain purpose, person, or situation

emphasizes social or moral fitting as well as function

B

befitting

vsproper

2 4.6

Suitable for a person, situation, or occasion

is used more generally beyond special occasions or persons

Antonyms

I

inappropriate

354 3.7

Not right for a situation or event

I

improper

100 4.1

Not suitable according to normal rules or standards

Idioms

P

prim and proper

3 7.0

Very formal and correct in clothes and manners, often strict and stiff

G

good and proper

• Informal

1 6.2

Completely and in the right way

Compounds

P

proper training

7 3.4

Teaching that gives the skills someone needs to do a job safely and correctly

P

proper name

• Specialized

4 4.9

A name for a specific person, place, or thing that we write with a capital letter

P

proper noun

• Specialized

1 2.1

A name for a specific person, place, or organization

P

proper fraction

• Specialized

3.3

A fraction with a top number smaller than the bottom number

How Appropriate

ideal

241 3.8

proper

596 2.2

appropriate

962 3.5

suitable

172 1.8

acceptable

477 2.5

Surface Forms

Etymology