Confusing words explained
“high” vs “highly” — What’s the Difference?
High is mostly an adjective describing physical height — 'a high mountain', 'high prices'; as an adverb it describes literal upward movement — 'fly high'. Highly is an adverb meaning 'to a great degree', usually figurative — 'highly recommended', 'highly skilled'. High = literal up; highly = figurative very much.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: high vs highly
High is mostly an adjective describing physical height — 'a high mountain', 'high prices'; as an adverb it describes literal upward movement — 'fly high'. Highly is an adverb meaning 'to a great degree', usually figurative — 'highly recommended', 'highly skilled'. High = literal up; highly = figurative very much.
high vs highly Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of high
Extending a great distance upward from the ground or surface.
Reaching far up into the air; tall or at a great height.
Use to describe the vertical distance of objects or their position above the ground.
- The mountain is very high.
- We climbed the high ladder to reach the shelf.
Meaning of highly
How to Remember the Difference
High = literal up (fly high); highly = figurative very much (highly recommended).
Common Mistakes with high and highly
Mistake with high
Wrong: The building is very height.
Correct: The building is very high.
High is the adjective form; height is a noun, cannot be used after 'is'.
Mistake with high
Wrong: We flew at high altitude in clouds.
Correct: We flew at high altitude in the clouds.
Must use article 'the' before plural noun clouds.
Practice Quiz: high or highly?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
The mountain is very _____.
Question 2
We climbed the _____ ladder to reach the shelf.
Question 3
The _____ walls of the fortress protected the city.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About high vs highly
What’s the difference between “high” and “highly”?
High is mostly an adjective describing physical height — 'a high mountain', 'high prices'; as an adverb it describes literal upward movement — 'fly high'. Highly is an adverb meaning 'to a great degree', usually figurative — 'highly recommended', 'highly skilled'. High = literal up; highly = figurative very much.
When should I use “high”?
Use to describe the vertical distance of objects or their position above the ground.
How can I remember high vs highly?
High = literal up (fly high); highly = figurative very much (highly recommended).
Is it “high” or “highly” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.