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

Officials urged people to stay away from the area as the investigation is underway. —Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024

For the past few months, construction crews have been hard at work in Willets Point, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, where the first phase of what will become the city’s largest affordable housing development in four decades is underway. —Lee Igel, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Driving the news: Final work to set up the restaurant is underway, and the City Council granted its liquor license this week. —Jason Clayworth, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024

Casting is underway on the movie, which will shoot in Australia in the first half of 2025. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024

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