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

With only six matchweeks in its league phase, the Conference League does not get underway until the prolonged September international break on October 15. — Leon Imber, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

With construction now underway, the immediate milestone is the first phase, which is expected to be ready in 2029. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

Adverb

There is work underway at Portsmouth to extend the service lives of ships nearing the end of the operations limit. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026

The fun includes the Aflac Kickoff Game with Auburn and Baylor getting their football seasons underway at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as well as the BBQ, Blues & Brews festival in Austell. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 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