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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Highly Meaning, Examples & Correct Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：to a great degree (highly)

highly 🔊

/ˈhaɪli/

adv.

to a large or great degree; very.

Fire danger sign pointing to HIGH level in forest

to a great degree 🔊

➕

/tə ə ɡreɪt dɪˈɡriː/

adv.

Used as an adverb to indicate that something is done to a very large extent or in a significant manner, often intensifying adjectives or past participles.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Old English 'heah' (high) plus adverbial suffix '-ly'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a skyscraper reaching high into the clouds—'highly' means to that extreme degree.

📖 Example

She is highly motivated to finish her research before the deadline. 🔊 She is highly motivated to finish her research before the deadline.

🔗 Collocations

highly recommended – strongly suggested as being excellent or worth choosing

highly likely – very probable; almost certain to happen

highly qualified – having excellent skills, experience, or credentials

🔄 Synonyms

extremely (adv.) – to a very great degree; very

very (adv.) – used for emphasis to a high degree

greatly (adv.) – to a large extent; considerably

🚫 Antonyms

slightly (adv.) – to a small degree; not very much

barely (adv.) – only just; almost not

scarcely (adv.) – hardly; only just

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Old English 'heah' meaning 'high' and '-lice' (like), 'highly' evolved in Middle English to emphasize degree or opinion. It is widely used in modern academic and professional writing to intensify descriptions.

Meaning 2：with great approval (highly)

highly 🔊

/ˈhaɪli/

adv.

used to indicate a very positive judgment or opinion.

Award certificate with gold seal on wooden desk

with great approval 🔊

➕

/wɪð ɡreɪt əˈpruːvəl/

adv.

Used to convey a very favorable judgment or positive opinion about someone or something, often in contexts like praise, recommendation, or evaluation.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Her teacher highly praised her creative writing skills in front of the whole class. 🔊 Her teacher highly praised her creative writing skills in front of the whole class.

🔗 Collocations

highly praised – given a great deal of admiration and approval

highly regarded – considered with great respect and esteem

highly spoken of – described in very positive terms by others

🔄 Synonyms

strongly (adv.) – in a forceful or emphatic manner, often used with praise or recommendation

warmly (adv.) – with enthusiasm and heartfelt approval

greatly (adv.) – to a very large extent, especially in appreciation

🚫 Antonyms

poorly (adv.) – in a way that shows low quality or negative judgment

slightingly (adv.) – in a manner that shows disrespect or underestimation

badly (adv.) – in an unfavorable or negative way