adverb
- in or to a high degree; extremely: highly amusing; highly seasoned food.
- with high appreciation or praise; admiringly: to speak highly of a person.
- more than adequately; generously: a highly paid consultant.
adverb
- (intensifier)highly pleased; highly disappointed
- with great approbation or favourwe spoke highly of it
- in a high positionplaced highly in class
- at or for a high price or cost
Old English healice “nobly, gloriously, honorably;” see high (adj.) + -ly (1). Meaning “very, very much, fully” is mid-14c.