un·der·way
ˌən-dər-ˈwā 
: occurring, performed, or used while traveling or in motion
underway replenishment of fuel
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.
Examples of underway in a Sentence
Adverb
construction of the new shopping mall is under way
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The show got underway outdoors at Borough Hall with a handful of guests and many more onlookers (the runway was raised, which was a nice touch).
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
At least one Johnson County city is supporting a push to make Spanish language voting materials more readily available, with more discussions in other cities underway.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underway
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Adjective
The exercise, which comes to its 66th iteration, included in-port and underway phases, with the latter featuring live-fire drills—such as a ship-sinking event and a ship-to-shore landing and force withdrawal, demonstrating amphibious capabilities.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The show got underway outdoors at Borough Hall with a handful of guests and many more onlookers (the runway was raised, which was a nice touch).
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025
Adverb
Routh's criminal trial had just gotten underway last week when debates about political violence in America reached a fever pitch following the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
At least one Johnson County city is supporting a push to make Spanish language voting materials more readily available, with more discussions in other cities underway.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underway
Cite this Entry
“Underway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underway. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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