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

Glutathione is a highly specialized tripeptide and most powerful antioxidant in the body. —Brianna Peters, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026

The spa The on-site spa is small and intimate, with just a few treatment beds, which makes booking in advance highly recommended. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026

While farms have reported fewer cases this year, the virus is still highly contagious and transmitted through wild birds. —Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026

Therefore, the practical application of all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries, which are the solid-state version of sodium-ion batteries, is highly desired in many industries. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 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