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

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

But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said later Tuesday that the plan to push out funding to state programs on a partial basis was still underway. —Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025

With the construction now underway with the promise of pickleball and playgrounds, the park is expected to open in 2027. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025

Adverb

Layoffs tend to follow any merger, and the ones that got underway this week are said to be in the works for months. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025

There are currently two clinical programs underway, with one being led by its partner Eli Lilly for an autoimmune and inflammatory disorder treatment called Ocadusertib. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025

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
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• 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