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
Explanation
Highly means to a high degree, extremely. A highly dangerous substance is one to stay far away from. If you think very highly of yourself, you give yourself the thumbs up every time you walk by a mirror. Highly comes from the Old English word healice for basically, "honorably," but has also come to mean “very very.” A highly respected writer is one people look up to. A highly regarded politician will probably win an election. Highly also refers to anything that is intense or extreme. A highly flammable chemical can burst into flames easily. The -ly ending is highly common for an adverb.
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.
“The latest price action shows that bitcoin remains highly sensitive to liquidity expectations, Treasury yields and institutional flows rather than moving solely on crypto-specific news,” said Naeem Aslam, chief investment officer of Zaye Capital Markets.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
Michael Orange, head of US retail sales for FCA US, said Friday the companies were operating against "a highly competitive industry backdrop."
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
But since then, there has been no broader examination of what happened before, during and beyond that highly charged decade and a half.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
The surge in porridge popularity could be fuelled by the success of the highly acclaimed documentary film The Golden Spurtle, which followed competitors at the 2023 championships.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
“This map is highly detailed, but the hidden entrance does not appear to be on it,” Simon said in frustration.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
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.
