underway

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˌʌndɜrˈweɪ/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    In progress; having begun and continuing to develop or move forward.; Of a ship or boat, having started moving through the water; not at anchor or moored.
  2. adverb
    In the course of being done or carried out; in progress.; Moving or in motion, especially of a vessel on the water.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Collocations

get underwaybe underwaywell underwayalready underwaynow underway

Synonyms

in progressongoingafootin motionstarted

Antonyms

completedfinishedhalted

Commonly confused

under way
EN: 'Under way' (two words) is the traditional spelling used predicatively (e.g., 'The project is under way'), while 'underway' (one word) is now standard as an attributive adjective (e.g., 'an underway project'), though modern usage increasingly accepts 'underway' in both positions.

Spelling tips

EN: Traditionally written as two words ('under way') when used predicatively, but the one-word form 'underway' is now widely accepted in all positions. Avoid confusing it with 'underweigh' (a nautical term meaning to raise anchor).

💬 Examples

  1. The investigation is already underway and expected to take several months.

  2. The vessel was underway by dawn, heading south along the coast.

  3. Preparations are well underway for the upcoming festival.

  4. The ship got underway at first light.