Understanding ‘Highly’: Boost Your IELTS Score with This Key Adverb
Learn the meaning, usage, and importance of the adverb ‘highly’ for IELTS success. This video covers its definition, etymology, synonyms, antonyms, and common usage errors. Perfect for learners aiming for band scores of 5.5 and above.
Imagine you’re at a job interview, and the interviewer says, You come highly recommended. How would that make you feel?
Today, we’re going to explore the word highly, an essential term for IELTS learners aiming for a band score of 5.5 and above.
Word type: Highly is an adverb. This means it’s used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Meaning:
Highly means to a great degree or to a large extent. It’s used to emphasize the intensity or importance of something.
Word history: The word highly comes from Old English. It’s derived from the word high, which has been used for over a thousand years to describe something tall or important.
Antonyms: Some opposites of highly include slightly, barely, and poorly.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to highly include very, extremely, and greatly.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s look at how to use highly in different contexts. The company is looking for highly skilled workers.
This restaurant is highly rated on review websites. She spoke highly of her former colleague during the reference call.
Common errors in use: Be careful not to confuse highly with high. While high is usually an adjective, highly is always an adverb.
For example, you would say The building is very high, but The building is highly visible from a distance.
Also, avoid overusing highly. In formal writing, it’s sometimes better to use more specific adverbs. Instead of saying highly important, you could say crucial or essential.
To improve your IELTS score, try incorporating highly into your speaking and writing tasks. Remember, it’s not just about using the word, but using it correctly and in the right context.
Practice using highly in your everyday conversations and writing to become more comfortable with it.
The more you use it, the more natural it will become, helping you on your path to achieving that higher IELTS band score.
