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

As this pandemic shows, we live in a highly networked world, and it’s unlikely that borders can remain shut indefinitely.

From Popular-Science

In 2017, when the first interstellar object was detected in our solar system, a highly respected Harvard astrophysicist suggested it might be a probe that was sent by aliens.

From Outside Online

We’ve gathered selections of high quality, highly durable, excellently pigmented options to tackle any job.

From Popular-Science

That’s a highly suspect claim, given the slow rollout of testing here.

From Washington Post

On October 5, Fortune is launching an online learning platform and community called Fortune Connect that will target mid-tier, vp and senior manager executives in a highly monetized way.

From Digiday

Such is her burgeoning popularity Toomey is looking to employ more instructors to lead her highly personalized exercise classes.

From The Daily Beast

Asian-Americans may vote for Democrats now, but they are a highly persuadable—and growing—part of the electorate.

From The Daily Beast

It was Orlando vs. Justin in an Ibiza melee with two highly unlikely opposing parties.

From The Daily Beast

On May 9, which Moscow commemorates as World War II “Victory Day,” Klaus paid a highly visible visit to the Russian Embassy.

From The Daily Beast

Depending on the producer, Champagne can also be highly cloyingly sweet, buttery, or round, or mineral.

From The Daily Beast

Under the one-sixth they appear as slender, highly refractive fibers with double contour and, often, curled or split ends.

From Project Gutenberg

We prefer the American volume of Hochelaga to the Canadian one, although both are highly interesting.

From Project Gutenberg

This has a warm though a thin soil, which must be highly favorable to the Vine to induce so exclusive a devotion to it.

From Project Gutenberg

Thomas Cooper, an English prelate, died; highly commended for his great learning and eloquence.

From Project Gutenberg

It took twenty Eskimos to hold it when allowed full play, and even these it jerked about in a manner that highly diverted them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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