highly

adverb

high·​ly ˈhī-lē 

1

: in or to a high place, level, or rank

2

: in or to a high degree or amount

3

: with approval : favorably

Synonyms of highly

• extremely
• very
• incredibly
• terribly
• too
• so
• badly
• severely
• really
• damn
• damned
• intensely
• heavily
• seriously
• most

Examples of highly in a Sentence

She is one of the most highly respected journalists in the country.

though she didn't win, she was highly satisfied with her personal results for the marathon

Recent Examples on the Web

But for all operators, voyages remain limited and are highly seasonal. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Fallers Mack Hollins, WR The veteran played more snaps than any other Patriots receiver a year ago, a sign of how highly coaches think of him. — Chad Graff, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Something extraordinary these episodes illustrate, in our view, is the vulnerability of America’s highly interconnected fresh-food supply chain, in which one grower or supplier problem can ripple astonishingly far. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

The fourth season premiere of Ted Lasso was, in fact, highly anticipated, based on Nielsen’s streaming ratings data. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing highly

• highly strung
• highly superior autobiographical memory

Rhymes for highly

• dryly
• kiley
• shyly
• slyly
• smiley
• wily
• wryly

Kids Definition

highly

adverb

high·​ly ˈhī-lē 

1

: very entry 2 sense 1, extremely

highly pleased

2

: with approval

speaks highly of you