underway

1 of 2

adjective

un·​der·​way ˌən-dər-ˈwā 

: occurring, performed, or used while traveling or in motion

underway replenishment of fuel

underway

2 of 2

adverb

variants or less commonly under way

1

: in motion : not at anchor or aground

The ship was underway at dawn.

2

: into motion from a standstill

The train should be underway again soon.

3

: in progress : happening now

Preparations for the celebration are already underway.

A search is underway.

The season got underway with a bang.

Synonyms

Adverb

• afoot
• under weigh

Examples of underway in a Sentence

Adverb

construction of the new shopping mall is under way

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That Play Store change is already underway and will be fully deployed within weeks. —Zak Doffman, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Williams also said an investigation is underway on whether barricades along Bourbon Street were still up at the time of the attack. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 1 Jan. 2025

Pretrial hearings for Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi have been underway for more than a decade. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Jan. 2025

An investigation is underway after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 1, leaving one person dead and seven others injured, according to local authorities. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

probably from Dutch onderweg, from Middle Dutch onderwegen, literally, under or among the ways

First Known Use

Adjective

1743, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

under way

adverb

1

: in or into motion

a ship getting under way

2

: in progress

preparations are under way