highly
Americanadverb
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in or to a high degree; extremely.
highly amusing; highly seasoned food.
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with high appreciation or praise; admiringly.
to speak highly of a person.
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more than adequately; generously.
a highly paid consultant.
adverb
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(intensifier)
highly pleased
highly disappointed
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with great approbation or favour
we spoke highly of it
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in a high position
placed highly in class
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at or for a high price or cost
Etymology
Origin of highly
First recorded before 900; Middle English heihliche, Old English hēalīce; equivalent to high + -ly
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.
My social feeds are largely filled with enthusiastic folks, but a noticeable amount of posts are highly defensive about the cost, both in terms of finances and attention.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
Schneiderman said it is "highly unlikely that the US will choose to use nuclear weapons against Iran. It is the ultimate Rubicon to cross."
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
But drones are a highly dispersed threat, which makes them much harder to target at their source.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
He has played 91 times for the club since, under four different managers, which underlines how highly rated he is.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
Dasch was an expert on all things American, which was a highly valuable skill set in Nazi Germany.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
