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

Crime, courts and policing An investigation is underway after a student died in a fall from a balcony at a Highland Park high school. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

To be sure, manufacturing capacity would need to expand substantially, but this is already underway. — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026

Adverb

Her high-energy opening set officially got the night underway after viewers had to wait longer than expected for the broadcast to begin. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

With a new school year underway, things like homework, back-to-school nights and PTA meetings are on all of our minds right now. — Chicago Tribune, 26 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