highly

highly — adverb

1. used before particular adjectives to mean that something has a quality to a very

1.adverbB1
Definition

used before particular adjectives to mean that something has a quality to a very great extent, such as being likely, successful, or effective

Example

The sushi at that small restaurant is highly recommended by food critics.

highly + past participle (recommended)

It is highly unlikely that Noor will finish the report before Friday.

highly + adjective (unlikely)

Common collocations
  • highly likely
  • highly unlikely
  • highly recommended
  • highly successful
  • highly effective
  • highly skilled
  • highly controversial
  • highly sensitive
Synonyms
  • extremely

    stronger emphasis, works with more adjectives than 'highly'

  • very

    the general-purpose intensifier, less formal than 'highly'

  • greatly

    often used with past participles like 'affected' or 'improved'

  • exceptionally

    suggests something is unusual even among high-quality examples

Antonyms
  • slightly

    opposite end of the intensity scale

  • barely

    suggests the quality is present only at a minimum level

Grammar Patterns

highly + adjective

highly + past participle

Usage Note

Only certain adjectives and past participles combine naturally with 'highly'. Common pairings include 'likely', 'unlikely', 'successful', 'effective', 'recommended', 'skilled', and 'controversial'. For general intensification of most adjectives, use 'very' instead.

Common Mistakes

I am highly tired after work.
I am very tired after work.
'highly' is not used before most ordinary adjectives such as 'tired', 'hot', or 'big'; use 'very' instead.
The movie was highly good.
The movie was very good.
'highly' cannot replace 'very' before short common adjectives like 'good', 'bad', or 'nice'.

2. expressing strong admiration or approval toward someone or something when you ta

2.adverbB1
Definition

expressing strong admiration or approval toward someone or something when you talk about them or have an opinion of them

Example

All of her former students speak highly of Professor Chen's teaching style.

speak highly of [someone]

The local newspaper thinks highly of the new community garden project.

think highly of [something]

Common collocations
  • speak highly of
  • think highly of
  • highly regarded
  • highly praised
Synonyms
  • favorably

    more formal, common in written evaluations and reports

  • admiringly

    focuses on the feeling of admiration rather than approval

  • respectfully

    emphasizes politeness and deference, not necessarily admiration

Antonyms
  • unfavorably

    the direct opposite in evaluation contexts

  • critically

    suggests pointing out faults rather than expressing approval

Grammar Patterns

speak highly of [someone/something]

think highly of [someone/something]

be highly praised

be highly regarded

Usage Note

Typically paired with verbs of evaluation: 'speak', 'think', 'regard', or 'praise'. The person or thing being admired is the object of the preposition 'of' after 'speak' and 'think'. The passive form ('be highly regarded', 'be highly praised') is common in formal and academic writing.

Common Mistakes

I highly of my teacher.
I think highly of my teacher.
'highly' alone cannot replace the verb; the pattern requires 'speak/think + highly + of'.
She spoke him highly.
She spoke highly of him.
the person admired must follow 'of', not come directly after the verb.

3. in a position of high status, authority, or influence within an organization or

3.adverbB2
Definition

in a position of high status, authority, or influence within an organization or society

Example

The diplomatic event was only for highly placed officials from each country.

highly + past participle (placed)

Sora comes from a highly connected family in the fashion industry.

highly + past participle (connected)

Common collocations
  • highly placed
  • highly ranked
  • highly connected
  • highly influential
Synonyms
  • influentially

    focuses on the ability to affect decisions rather than formal rank

  • prominently

    suggests being well-known or widely visible

  • powerfully

    emphasizes the ability to control or direct outcomes

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

highly + past participle (placed / ranked / positioned / connected)

Usage Note

Frequently appears in news and business writing. The adjectives and past participles used with this sense — 'placed', 'ranked', 'positioned', 'connected', 'influential' — all relate to social or professional hierarchy rather than personal qualities.

Common Mistakes

He is a highly person in the company.
He is a highly placed person in the company.
'highly' alone does not function as an adjective; it must modify another word like 'placed' or 'ranked'.

Word family

  • high
    adjectiveA1
  • high
    adverbA2
  • height
    nounA2
  • higher
    adjectiveA2
  • highest
    adjectiveA2
  • highness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

'Very' is the most general and common intensifier in English and can be used before almost any adjective or adverb ('very tired', 'very quickly'). 'Highly' is more restricted — it pairs naturally with adjectives that describe degree, quality, or probability ('highly effective', 'highly likely') and with past participles ('highly recommended'). It sounds more formal than 'very' and is often preferred in professional or academic contexts. 'Extremely' is stronger than both 'very' and 'highly', suggesting a level that goes far beyond the ordinary ('extremely dangerous', 'extremely valuable'). 'Greatly' is closest to 'highly' in formality but is used mostly with past participles expressing emotional or quantitative change ('greatly improved', 'greatly appreciated'). For example: you would say 'I am very happy' (not *'highly happy'), 'the chemicals are extremely dangerous' (emphasizing danger beyond usual), and 'your help is greatly appreciated' (the standard polite formula).

very ↗extremely ↗greatly ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite highly
  • very highly
  • so highly

Prepositions

  • highly of (used with speak/think)

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in Middle English from the adjective 'high' (going back to Old English 'hēah', meaning 'tall' or 'lofty') plus the adverbial suffix '-ly' (from Old English '-līce'). The intensifier meaning — 'to a great degree' — developed early, appearing in Old English texts for both literal height and figurative intensity. The specialized senses of expressing admiration (sense 2) and high rank (sense 3) became established by the 16th century.