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# improperly

adverb (improperly)

«improperly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Improperly means in a wrong or incorrect way, not as it should be done. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#m1)
2. Improperly means in a way that is not polite, honest or allowed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#m2)

### In the lessons

In safety lessons it warns about things done the wrong way: «improperly stored chemicals», «improperly fitted car seat». In news and law it means breaking rules: «He acted improperly». Phrases: «improperly dressed», «improperly used», «behave improperly».

### Examples

- The car seat was fitted improperly, so it was not safe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#x1)
- Food stored improperly can make you ill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#x2)
- The ladder was used improperly and it slipped. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#x3)
- The judge said the officer had acted improperly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#x4)
- If you wash wool improperly, it shrinks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#x5)
- The bin was closed improperly and the foxes got in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#x6)
- He was improperly dressed for a wedding, in muddy football kit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/#x7)

### Note

Adverb from «improper». Opposite: «properly». Spelled with two «p»s in the middle: im-prop-er-ly. «Improperly» is a bit formal; in everyday speech people say «the wrong way».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «improperly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improperly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«improperly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/improperly.html) on Mova free.