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.
Synonyms
Examples of underway in a Sentence
Adverb
construction of the new shopping mall is under way
Recent Examples on the Web
Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 June 2024
Carnival registration time The countdown is underway for the 2024 New York Carnival — the annual five-day Brooklyn festival of Caribbean music, cuisine and culture coming Aug. 29 through Sept. 2 (Labor Day Monday) — and registration is open for carnival participants.
—Jared McCallister, New York Daily News, 22 June 2024
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office allege the defendant came to the scene of a homicide May 5 with a badge, introducing himself as a fire captain and seeking entry to a home where a death investigation was underway.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 22 June 2024
The Big 3 negotiations are now underway, and dozens of trailer bills are being drafted.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 22 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for underway 
Adjective
Faculty member Cynthia Kortman Westphal will take over as interim chair of the program for the next year from interim chair Linda Goodrich, with a search underway for a permanent chair to start in fall 2025.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 June 2024
Carnival registration time The countdown is underway for the 2024 New York Carnival — the annual five-day Brooklyn festival of Caribbean music, cuisine and culture coming Aug. 29 through Sept. 2 (Labor Day Monday) — and registration is open for carnival participants.
—Jared McCallister, New York Daily News, 22 June 2024
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office allege the defendant came to the scene of a homicide May 5 with a badge, introducing himself as a fire captain and seeking entry to a home where a death investigation was underway.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 22 June 2024
The Big 3 negotiations are now underway, and dozens of trailer bills are being drafted.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 22 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for underway
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near underway
Cite this Entry
“Underway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underway. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share