be proper

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s a great piece of noise music, but it’s free jazz, and it’s not even following the structures of what you know to be proper jazz behavior.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025

"There really needs to be proper 24-hour IT cover."

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2025

On Monday, Sarah Dines, a Home Office minister, described the barge as “basic but proper” and said that it would send “a forceful message that there will be proper accommodation but not luxurious.”

From New York Times • Aug. 7, 2023

"There has to be justice for this. There has to be justice in The Hague and there has to be proper reparation in the rebuilding of Ukraine," he said.

From Reuters • Feb. 16, 2023

They thought it would be proper to serve dessert, and bought several envelopes of pudding mix.

From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket