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

Ferris Fire - evacuations underway Another fire farther south has burned approximately 250 acres and prompted officials to issue an evacuation order for residents on Lone Dome Road and 521 Road up to McPhee Dam, and for everyone at the Bradfield Campground. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 27 June 2026

Video of the incident shows Ossé and others attempting to block entry to the building as the eviction effort got underway. — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026

Adverb

With the search and rescue efforts underway, the United States is among the nations sending medical resources and humanitarian aid to Venezuela. — Raymond Strickland, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Even with all of these headlines and developments underway, however, there is another layer to the wider crypto discourse that is emerging; the intersection of quantum technologies with the crypto and cybersecurity conversations. — Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 26 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