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
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Looking at a timeline of developments by decade, the 5-year span of the 2020s has already seen higher levels of construction, both completed and underway, in office, hotel and residential spaces.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
If the nation has an expensive effort underway to promote homeownership – think of all the aid programs and tax breaks – should various bureaucratic benefits also incentivize third-party ownership of any shape or size?
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underway
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Adjective
The iPhone’s strong results indicate a strong product cycle is underway, while the high-margin Services revenue stream continues to hum along.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Looking at a timeline of developments by decade, the 5-year span of the 2020s has already seen higher levels of construction, both completed and underway, in office, hotel and residential spaces.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
There's an effort underway in Colorado to strengthen the pipeline of school leaders, with a focus on equity and representation.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
If the nation has an expensive effort underway to promote homeownership – think of all the aid programs and tax breaks – should various bureaucratic benefits also incentivize third-party ownership of any shape or size?
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underway
Cite this Entry
“Underway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underway. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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