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 of underway

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

There's about to be a lot of focus on soccer for the next month, what with the World Cup getting underway, but MLB is scoring itself some heat by bringing some serious heat. —Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026

World Cup fever picked up as games are now underway — but not in Chicago, a fact that has brought former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel back into the spotlight on all things soccer. —Hilary Gowins, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026

Adverb

Character details for these four are under wraps, with production underway in Los Angeles under a California tax credit. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 June 2026

The festivities got underway a little over an hour before the first kickoff in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. —Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 11 June 2026

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

Rhymes for underway

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

under way

adverb

1

: in or into motion

a ship getting under way

2

: in progress

preparations are under way