under way

American  

adjective

1. Also (of a ship) no longer in port, at anchor, etc.; moving.

2. no longer at rest, stationary, etc.; in motion; traveling.

   We'll put our bags in the car and be under way.

3. proceeding; in progress.

   Plans are under way to sell the company.

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under way British  

adjective

1. in progress; in operation

   the show was under way

2. nautical in motion

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under way Idioms  

1. In motion, as in The ship got under way at noon . [c. 1930]

2. Already started, in progress, as in Plans are under way to expand . [c. 1930]

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Example Sentences

The first sign of the tide changing, private-credit lawyers say, played out around mid-March when deals that had been under way were repriced and a few got pulled.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Efforts to delay the arrival of screwworm in the US have been under way since cases began increasing in Central America and Mexico.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The May employment report, due Friday, will offer more clues on whether a broad rebound in hiring is under way — or whether the labor market is just treading water.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

The world’s largest crypto by market capitalization fell sharply last week after the U.S. launched new strikes on Iran, even with peace negotiations under way.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

But he grinned like a madman and announced that they were safely under way.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan