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

Many biological systems—such as spongy bone or plant tissues—exhibit remarkable strength despite being highly porous. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026

The agency said the facility contained about 440 pounds of highly reactive chemicals. —Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026

Food and drink For some, SoNoMa by SingleThread—the highly engaging three-hour dinner experience—will be reason enough to book a room (reservations for overnight guests are prioritized). —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026

Like Jacobs, Coppola is highly invested in fashion, an interest that is manifest in her work. —Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 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