underway

1 of 2

adjective

un·​der·​way ˌən-dər-ˈwā How to pronounce underway (audio)
: 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.

Examples of underway in a Sentence

Adverb construction of the new shopping mall is under way
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Officials urged people to stay away from the area as the investigation is underway. Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024 For the past few months, construction crews have been hard at work in Willets Point, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, where the first phase of what will become the city’s largest affordable housing development in four decades is underway. Lee Igel, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Driving the news: Final work to set up the restaurant is underway, and the City Council granted its liquor license this week. Jason Clayworth, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024 Casting is underway on the movie, which will shoot in Australia in the first half of 2025. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for underway 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of underway was in 1720

Dictionary Entries Near underway

Cite this Entry

“Underway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underway. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

under way

adverb
1
: in or into motion
a ship getting under way
2
: in progress
preparations are under way

More from Merriam-Webster on underway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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