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
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
1 July 2026
Jamison is the city’s most prolific converter of offices to market-rate apartments and currently has a major makeover of a downtown office skyscraper underway for tenants who can pay top rents.
—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
This year’s Grand Depart begins in Barcelona — with the first team trial since 2019 getting the race underway.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for underway
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Adjective
The statue’s creation is already underway courtesy of local sculptor Ben Victor.
—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
1 July 2026
Jamison is the city’s most prolific converter of offices to market-rate apartments and currently has a major makeover of a downtown office skyscraper underway for tenants who can pay top rents.
—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Adverb
Before the Brown trade, the Sixers made some other smaller moves with free agency underway.
—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
This year’s Grand Depart begins in Barcelona — with the first team trial since 2019 getting the race underway.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
1 July 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 5 Jul. 2026.
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