adv Uncommon

duly

JOO-lee

Duly (adv) means In the proper, expected, or correct manner. Example: “The contract was duly signed by both parties.”

adv

In the proper, expected, or correct manner.

"The contract was duly signed by both parties."

"He was duly warned about the consequences."

At the appropriate or scheduled time.

"The train duly arrived at nine o'clock."

How to use duly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishProperly, correctly, or as expected — often used to confirm something was done the right way.

When to use it

Fairly formal; common in legal, official, and bureaucratic writing.

Common pairings

duly noted duly signed duly elected

Word forms

more duly comparative, most duly superlative

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The contract was _____ signed by both parties.

Etymology

From "due" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly," so literally "in a due manner."

Synonyms

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punctually

Related words

soon exactly prematurely punctually on time

Rhymes for duly

July truly Pauly unruly unduly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “duly” mean?

The word “duly” means in the proper, expected, or correct manner. In plain terms, properly, correctly, or as expected — often used to confirm something was done the right way.

How do you pronounce “duly”?

“Duly” is pronounced JOO-lee (/ˈduli/ in IPA).

How do you use “duly” in a sentence?

Here is “duly” used in a sentence: “The contract was duly signed by both parties.”

What part of speech is “duly”?

“Duly” is an adverb.

Is “duly” a common word?

“Duly” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “duly” have?

“Duly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in the proper, expected, or correct manner.

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