Cool MateGreatly vs Highly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Greatly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Highly
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
Most common: Highly
| Greatly | Highly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɡreɪtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɡreɪtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhaɪli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhaɪli/"]/ |
| Meaning | a lot or very much | Very much or to a great degree. |
| Example | People's reaction to the film has varied greatly. | She is highly skilled in playing the violin. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | greatly improve, greatly appreciate, greatly enhance, greatly affect | highly recommended, highly qualified, highly effective, highly important, highly regarded |
| Antonyms | slightly, partially, minimally | low, slightly, mildly |
| Common mistakes | Using 'greatly' incorrectly with nouns instead of verbs or adjectives., Confusing 'greatly' with 'great' as an adjective., Overusing 'greatly' in informal settings. | Using 'high' instead of 'highly' (e.g., 'high recommended' instead of 'highly recommended'), Confusing with 'highly' as a noun rather than an adverb, Omitting topics when using 'highly' (e.g., 'highly, please' is incomplete) |
| Usage notes | Use 'greatly' to emphasize the extent of a feeling, action, or quality, especially in formal contexts. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'really' might fit better. | Used to emphasize the degree of an adjective or adverb. Typically appropriate in both spoken and written language, but be cautious in informal settings where simpler terms might be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Greatly vs Highly
What's the difference between Greatly and Highly?
Greatly: a lot or very much Highly: Very much or to a great degree.
Which is more common: Greatly and Highly?
Highly is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Greatly and Highly?
Greatly is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Greatly and Highly the same CEFR level?
Greatly: B2, Highly: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Greatly and Highly?
Greatly: adverb, Highly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Greatly: People's reaction to the film has varied greatly. Highly: She is highly skilled in playing the violin.
Can I use Greatly and Highly interchangeably?
Not always. Greatly and Highly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.