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.

---

under way British  

adjective

1. in progress; in operation

   the show was under way

2. nautical in motion

---

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]

---

Example Sentences

A day later, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed inquiries were under way after thieves targeted The Dice Jail in Southwell on 25 December, and Sanctuary Gaming Centre & Coffee Shop in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 26 December.

From BBC

New mining projects are under way in the U.S. and Europe—but building a mine can take a decade.

From The Wall Street Journal

Police have said that further investigations are under way and that more arrests are likely in the coming days.

From BBC

He also said efforts were under way to work with security agencies to rescue those still in captivity.

From BBC

Prosecutors in both Aachen and Cologne said preparations for potential new charges were under way, but officials said that any further proceedings were unlikely to begin before 2027.

From BBC