highly

Adverb

Positive
highly

Comparative
more highly

Superlative
most highly

Highly is on the Academic Vocabulary List.

very
The two ideas are highly connected.
If someone is highly qualified, skilled, or educated, they have a lot of skill or knowledge.
The school has many highly qualified teachers.
If someone is highly placed, they have a lot of power.
If you think highly of someone or something, you think they're very good.
He became manager because everyone thought very highly of him.