1
: in or to a high place, level, or rank
2
: in or to a high degree or amount
3
: with approval : favorably
Synonyms
- achingly
- almighty
- archly
- awful
- awfully
- badly
- beastly
- blisteringly
- bone
- colossally
- corking
- cracking
- damn
- damned
- dang
- deadly
- desperately
- eminently
- enormously
- especially
- ever
- exceedingly
- exceeding
- extra
- extremely
- fabulously
- fantastically
- far
- fiercely
- filthy
- frightfully
- full
- greatly
- heavily
- hugely
- immensely
- incredibly
- intensely
- jolly
- majorly
- mightily
- mighty
- monstrous [chiefly dialect]
- mortally
- most
- much
- particularly
- passing
- rattling
- real
- really
- right
- roaring
- roaringly
- seriously
- severely
- so
- sore
- sorely
- spanking
- specially
- stinking
- such
- super
- supremely
- surpassingly
- terribly
- that
- thumping
- too
- unco
- uncommonly
- vastly
- very
- vitally
- way
- whacking
- wicked
- wildly
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
College diversity seesaws across the country Ending affirmative action has had an uneven impact on admissions to some of the most highly selective and competitive universities in the country.
—
Chelsea Bailey, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024
The highly walkable downtown (elevation: 1,950 feet) is set in a comfortable climate with little snow, good air quality, a low serious crime rate and a high number of doctors per capita.
—William P. Barrett, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024
Still, the most egregious trait of Trump’s campaign was his willingness to state highly consequential claims that were entirely at odds with reality, standing by them when challenged and sailing on — dismissive or seemingly oblivious to all criticism.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 14 Sep. 2024
Despite this, Griffon was a highly successful activist campaign for Voss where the firm gained board seats and made a 139.21% return on its 13D versus 1.28% for the Russell 2000 over the same period.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for highly 
Chelsea Bailey, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024
The highly walkable downtown (elevation: 1,950 feet) is set in a comfortable climate with little snow, good air quality, a low serious crime rate and a high number of doctors per capita.
—William P. Barrett, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024
Still, the most egregious trait of Trump’s campaign was his willingness to state highly consequential claims that were entirely at odds with reality, standing by them when challenged and sailing on — dismissive or seemingly oblivious to all criticism.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 14 Sep. 2024
Despite this, Griffon was a highly successful activist campaign for Voss where the firm gained board seats and made a 139.21% return on its 13D versus 1.28% for the Russell 2000 over the same period.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for highly
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'highly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near highly
Cite this Entry
“Highly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/highly. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
highly
adverb
high·ly
ˈhī-lē 
1
: very entry 2 sense 1, extremely
highly pleased
2
: with approval
speaks highly of you
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