adverb
Etymology: Middle English heghly, heyly, highly, from Old English hēalīce, from hēah high + -līce -ly — more at high
1. : in or to a high place, level, or rank
only a few highly placed persons … know the entire story — H.L.Stimson
2.
a. : in or to a high degree, amount, or extent : extremely , intensely
a highly interesting article
a highly successful play
a highly educated woman
b. : at a high rate or wage
a highly paid skilled worker
3.
a. : in a noble or elevated manner : solemnly
let us now and here highly resolve to … march along the path of real progress — F.D.Roosevelt
b. : with high approval or favor : favorably
does not think highly of many of his films — Current Biography