Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a high manner; to a high degree; in a high state or condition.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a high manner, or to a high degree; very much.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a high or esteemed manner.
  • adverb extremely; greatly; awfully

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a high position or level or rank
  • adverb at a high rate or wage
  • adverb to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English hiȝly, heȝly, heyȝliche, from Old English hēalīce ("highly"), equivalent to high +‎ -ly. Cognate with Dutch hoogelijk ("highly"), German höchlich ("highly"), Danish højlig ("highly"), Swedish högligen ("highly").

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Examples

  • From either point of view the authors are highly gifted individuals’ [!] —highly gifted individuals, who, notwithstanding their diversities, and the progressiveness observable in their representations of the nature of God, are wonderfully consistent in the main tenor of their writings, and serve, in general, for mutual confirmation and illustration.

    IX. On Reading the Bible (II) 1920

  • They say the term highly vulnerable is very subjective.

    CNN Transcript May 19, 2007 2007

  • It's interesting, their take is the term highly vulnerable is very subjective.

    CNN Transcript May 19, 2007 2007

  • In the interim, I've stopped using the term highly evolved business because, in my opinion, business structures and approaches have not yet really reached the required level of sophistication.

    BeyeNETWORK Content 2010

  • The unique approach to crossing punk style designs with classic, sophisticated clothing styles has made the label highly regarded in both Japan and a growing international community.

    SLAMXHYPE 2009

  • Indeed it can be argued that military force in the short term highly encouraged and hardened Islamist "extremism."

    Michael Vlahos: Did We Lose the War? Michael Vlahos 2011

  • Indeed it can be argued that military force in the short term highly encouraged and hardened Islamist "extremism."

    Michael Vlahos: Did We Lose the War? Michael Vlahos 2011

  • Google, unusually, did admit to having lost intellectual property during Operation Aurora, which it called a "highly sophisticated and targeted attack" that originated in China.

    Your Wall Has Ears Geoff Nairn 2011

  • Sony, which said it was taken off guard by what it called highly sophisticated criminal attacks, vowed to strengthen its network security, in part by adding firewalls and additional encryption.

    Sony Hits Restart on Games Network Ian Sherr 2011

  • Mr. Yood said his review is examining what he called "highly questionable transactions" a former chief executive "caused the hospital to enter into with third-party vendors, including Paul Randall."

    In Small California Hospitals, the Marketing of Back Surgery John Carreyrou 2012

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