highly

English

Etymology

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”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adverb

highly (comparative more highly, superlative most highly)

1. In a high or esteemed manner.

   He spoke highly of you.

2. extremely; greatly; awfully

   He is in a highly visible job.

Usage notes

• The adverb highly and the adverb high shouldn't be mistaken.

  This is certainly highly recommended.

  High above us the stars were shining.

Translations

in a high or esteemed manner

• Catalan: altament (ca)
• Czech: vysoko (cs)
• Polish: wysoko (pl)

• Scots: heichly
• Scottish Gaelic: gu h-àrd (gd)

extremely, greatly, awfully

• Armenian: սաստիկ (hy) (sastik)
• Czech: vysoko (cs)
• Polish: wysoko (pl)

• Scots: heichly
• Scottish Gaelic: gu h-àrd (gd)
• Spanish: altamente (es)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• Dutch: zeer, hoog
• Swedish: högt