pro
per
Comparative
more proper
Superlative
most proper
1
suitable or appropriate for the situation
- Wearing formal attire is proper for a business meeting.
- It's proper to use polite language when speaking to elders.
- Following safety guidelines is proper when handling hazardous materials.
- Using the correct tools is proper for completing the task efficiently.
- Arriving on time is proper etiquette for a job interview.
Antonyms:
2
conforming to the expected standards
- He finally landed a proper job after years of freelancing.
- She's never had a proper meal since she moved out of her parent's house.
- The company is looking for a proper partner for the project, not just anyone.
- A proper holiday requires relaxation and time away from work.
- They need a proper explanation for why the event was cancelled.
Synonyms:
3
conforming to accepted norms or standards in a particular situation
- The proper way to greet someone in this culture is with a handshake.
- The proper response to the question is 'yes.'
- He didn't think it was proper to speak out of turn during the meeting.
4
emphasizing something as complete or total
- After missing the train, I felt like a proper idiot.
- It was a proper nightmare trying to get everything done on time.
- He gave me a proper scare when he didn't show up on time.
- The whole event was a proper disaster from start to finish.
5
relating specifically and uniquely to something
- The plants proper to the desert can survive with minimal water.
- The diseases proper to the tropics require specific treatment methods.
- The customs proper to the region are deeply rooted in history.
- Certain animals are proper to specific climates, adapting uniquely to their environments.
Synonyms:
6
uniquely associated or owned by
- The decision was made using his proper judgment.
- The keys to the office are his proper possession.
- This is my proper responsibility to handle.
- He considered that idea his proper creation, as he had come up with it himself.
- The house felt like his proper home, a place where he truly belonged.
Synonyms:
7
used in reference to someone or something that stands out in beauty or grace
- He was a proper gentleman, well-dressed and poised.
- She was known as a proper lady, graceful and refined in all her manners.
- The young woman was described as a proper beauty, admired by all who saw her.