thought highly of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thought highly of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a positive opinion or admiration for someone or something. Example: "She was always thought highly of by her colleagues for her dedication and hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

All who knew Jeff respected and thought highly of him.

The New York Times

In any case, de Trobriand thought highly of him.

The New York Times

Coleridge thought highly of her poems; she wrote admiringly of his.

The Guardian - Books

Peart, who also thought highly of her, found accommodation for her.

The Guardian

Pinkel thought highly of Smith, but he admits that he could not have fathomed his impact.

The New York Times - Sports

We thought highly of him and we knew San Diego was interested.

The New York Times - Sports

I thought highly of him as a cook and as a man".

The New York Times

Barcelona thought highly of him, but lent him to Fenerbache of Istanbul, then to Tenerife.

The New York Times - Sports

Reid, 55, thought highly of Smith going back to Smith's collegiate days at Utah.

The New York Times - Sports

Mostly, he picked teams with coaches he thought highly of, or were due.

The New York Times - Sports

The Diamondbacks thought highly of me and gave me a chance to succeed".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thought highly of", ensure the context clearly indicates who held the positive opinion and about whom or what that opinion was held.

Common error

Avoid using "thought highly of" when the active voice would be more direct and clear. For instance, instead of "He was thought highly of by the team", consider "The team thought highly of him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thought highly of" functions as a descriptive expression, indicating a favorable opinion or high regard held by someone. It often appears in sentences where someone's positive assessment of another person, their work, or their qualities is highlighted, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

14%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thought highly of" is a versatile expression used to communicate respect and admiration. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and very common in contemporary English. It is particularly prevalent in News & Media, but also found in scientific, encyclopedic, and wiki contexts. To enhance clarity, it's beneficial to avoid passive voice constructions, favoring more direct expressions of opinion. Consider alternatives like "held in high regard" or "admired greatly" to add nuance. By understanding the nuances of usage, writers can effectively convey admiration and respect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held in high regard

Replaces "thought" with "held" and "highly" with "high regard", emphasizing the esteem in which someone is held.

had a high opinion of

Focuses on the opinion someone possesses, rather than the act of thinking.

esteemed greatly

Uses a more formal verb, "esteemed", and the adverb "greatly" to convey strong respect.

respected deeply

Emphasizes the respect felt, rather than the intellectual assessment implied by "thought".

had great respect for

Shifts the focus to the feeling of respect, rather than the act of thinking.

admired greatly

Highlights admiration as the primary emotion, suggesting a feeling of approval and appreciation.

regarded with admiration

Highlights the feeling of admiration as the primary focus.

valued highly

Indicates that someone or something was considered important and precious.

rated highly

Suggests a formal or informal assessment, as in a performance review.

looked up to

Implies admiration and respect, often for someone considered a role model.

FAQs

What does "thought highly of" mean?

The phrase "thought highly of" means to have a very good opinion of someone or something, implying respect and admiration.

How can I use "thought highly of" in a sentence?

You can use "thought highly of" to indicate that someone held another person or thing in high regard. For example: "The professor "thought highly of" her student's research".

What are some alternatives to "thought highly of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "held in high regard", "respected deeply", or "admired greatly".

Is "thought highly of" formal or informal?

"Thought highly of" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "esteemed greatly" might be preferred in very formal writing.