Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Highly is used before some adjectives to mean ‘very’.
Mr Singh was a ~ successful salesman...
...the ~ controversial nuclear energy programme.
= extremely
ADV: ADV adj
2.
You use ~ to indicate that someone has an important position in an organization or set of people.
...a ~ placed government advisor.
ADV: ADV -ed
3.
If someone is ~ paid, they receive a large salary.
He was the most ~ paid member of staff.
ADV: ADV -ed
4.
If you think ~ of something or someone, you think they are very good indeed.
...one of the most ~ regarded chefs in the French capital.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed