# underway

/ˌəndɝˈweɪ/ (US) · /ˌʌndəwˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/underway
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. in progress

adjective · CEFR B2

already started and currently happening.

For teachers: currently in progress or being carried out. Often functions as a predicative adjective following the verb 'to be' or 'to get'.

- The construction project is finally underway after months of planning.
- Preparations for the international summit are already well underway, with security teams coordinating across several different jurisdictions.

Usage: Usually appears after the verb 'to be' or 'to get'; it is rarely used before a noun.

### 2. an underpass

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a path or road that goes under another road or a railway line.

For teachers: a passage, such as a tunnel or underpass, that allows traffic or pedestrians to pass beneath an obstacle.

- The old underway allowed the villagers to cross beneath the busy tracks.
- The architectural plans included a narrow underway to facilitate pedestrian movement without disrupting the flow of the main thoroughfare.

Teaching tip: This noun sense is very rare in modern English; 'underpass' or 'tunnel' is almost always preferred.

## Examples

- The construction of the new bridge is finally underway.
- Preparations for the annual festival are already underway, with volunteers setting up tents in the park.
- While the investigation is currently underway, officials have declined to comment on the specific evidence gathered from the scene until the final report is published.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.