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
Simone McCarthy, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
The state playoffs get underway with Southern California regional action this week as the competition heats up trying to reach Sacramento for the state championships March 14 and 15 at Golden 1 Center.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The earthquake struck after the Oscars had ended and afterparty celebrations were getting underway, Fox Weather reported.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
What To Know The outage began just as the Oscars were getting underway, with many users reporting login failures.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underway
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Adjective
This year’s two sessions, which includes roughly weeklong meetings of both the NPC and the country’s top advisory body, gets underway as the White House is due to double the additional tariff on all Chinese imports to the US to 20% from 10%.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
The state playoffs get underway with Southern California regional action this week as the competition heats up trying to reach Sacramento for the state championships March 14 and 15 at Golden 1 Center.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025
The earthquake struck after the Oscars had ended and afterparty celebrations were getting underway, Fox Weather reported.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
What To Know The outage began just as the Oscars were getting underway, with many users reporting login failures.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underway
Cite this Entry
“Underway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underway. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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