proper
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- suitable, appropriate, apt, becoming, befitting, fit, fitting, right
- correct, accepted, conventional, established, formal, orthodox, precise, right
- polite, decent, decorous, genteel, gentlemanly, ladylike, mannerly, respectable, seemly

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Antonyms: improper

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English Thesaurus: suitable, right, appropriate, proper, suited to something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. prop‧er¹ S1 W2 /ˈprɒpə $ ˈprɑːpər/ adjective
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: propre, from Latin proprius 'own']

1. [only before noun] right, suitable, or correct:
Everything was in its proper place (=where it should be).
the proper way to clean your teeth
The proper name for Matthew’s condition is hyperkinetic syndrome.

2. socially or legally correct and acceptable Antonym : improper
it is proper (for somebody) to do something
I don’t feel that it would be proper for me to give you that information.
It is only right and proper that an independent inquiry should take place.

3. [only before noun] British English spoken real, or of a good and generally accepted standard Synonym : decent, real American English:
When are you going to settle down and get a proper job?
Try to eat proper meals instead of fast-food takeaways.

4. [only after noun] the real or main part of something, not other parts before, after, or near to it:
The friendly chat which comes before the interview proper is intended to relax the candidate.
the city centre proper

5. proper to something formal
a) belonging to one particular type of thing:
the reasoning abilities proper to our species
b) suitable for something:
dressed in a way that was proper to the occasion

6. [only before noun] British English spoken complete Synonym : real:
He’s made a proper fool of himself this time!

7. very polite, and careful to do what is socially correct:
She was very formal and proper.
⇒ properly

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. proper² adverb British English spoken

1. good and proper completely:
We beat 'em good and proper.

2. used by some people to mean properly, although most people think that this is incorrect

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

proper
adj.
VERBS be, seem It seemed proper to pay tribute to her in this way.
consider sth, deem sth, think sth It was not considered proper for young ladies to go out alone.
ADV. very | entirely, perfectly, quite The tribunal decided that his behaviour was perfectly proper.
PHRASES (only) right and proper It is only right and proper that you should attend his funeral.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

suitable having the right qualities for a particular purpose or person:
a suitable place for a picnic
They don’t consider him a suitable husband for their daughter.
right completely suitable in every way:
It’s a nice house, but it isn’t right for us.
We’ll tell her when the time is right.
appropriate suitable for a particular purpose. Appropriate is more formal than suitable:
She filled out all the appropriate forms.
It may not be an appropriate time to ask him about it.
It’s not appropriate to wear a short skirt for an interview.
the appropriate way to end a business letter
proper the proper tool, piece of equipment, or way of doing something is the one that most people think is most suitable:
You can’t change a wheel without the proper tools.
the proper procedure for hiring staff
suited to something if someone is suited to something, he or she has the right qualities to do it:
He’d be well suited to the job.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲