highly

[hahy-lee]

adverb

1. in or to a high degree; extremely.

   highly amusing; highly seasoned food.

2. with high appreciation or praise; admiringly.

   to speak highly of a person.

3. more than adequately; generously.

   a highly paid consultant.

highly

/ ˈhaɪlɪ /

adverb

1. (intensifier)

   highly pleased

   highly disappointed

2. with great approbation or favour

   we spoke highly of it

3. in a high position

   placed highly in class

4. at or for a high price or cost

Word History and Origins

Origin of highly¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English heihliche, Old English hēalīce; equivalent to high + -ly

Example Sentences

OTTAWA—The Bank of Canada’s No. 2 official endorsed a competition shakeup in the highly concentrated financial-services industry, saying the country’s banking sector is an oligopoly and changes could help lift Canada’s prolonged productivity slump.

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More recently it has laid off several highly paid employees.

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After an offseason focused on ironing out the kinks in his game, Johnston is finally showing why he was such a highly regarded prospect coming out of college.

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While the Eagles lost their unblemished record, one previously winless team finally got on the board—and it was another highly unlikely outcome.

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Since then, he has been electric, demonstrating why he was so highly touted in the first place.

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Related Words

• decidedly 
• deeply 
• eminently 
• exceedingly 
• exceptionally 
• extraordinarily www.thesaurus.com
• extremely 
• greatly 
• hugely 
• immensely 
• profoundly 
• really 
• remarkably 
• so 
• strikingly 
• supremely www.thesaurus.com
• terribly 
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• vastly 
• very much www.thesaurus.com