underway
gb/ˌʌndɚwˈeɪ/ us/ˌʌndɚwˈeɪ/
B1
English
~ 6200
folyamatban van, folyamatban lévő, menetben lévő, menetben van
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[event/process] is underway
The investigation into the accident is already underway.
A baleset kivizsgálása már folyamatban van.
Construction of the new bridge is now underway and will take two years.
Az új híd építése már folyamatban van, és két évig fog tartani.
Talks are underway to resolve the dispute between the two companies.
Preparations for the festival are well underway despite the bad weather.
A major review of the policy is currently underway at the ministry.
Learner examples
The meeting is already underway.
A megbeszélés már folyamatban van.
Work on the new road is now underway.
Az új út építése már folyamatban van.
Talks are underway to end the war.
The show is well underway, so please be quiet.
Repairs to the building are underway this week.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write *"The project is on the way"* to mean it has started. "On the way" usually means it is coming towards a place. Use "underway" or "in progress" to say that a project or event has already started and is continuing.
Meaning
already started and continuing
Collocations
be underway
|already underway
|well underway
|now underway
|talks are underway
|construction is underway
Synonyms
in progress (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and often used in written notices.)
|
ongoing (Stresses that something continues over time, often used for long projects or problems.)
Antonyms
finished (Shows that the activity is completely done, the opposite of still being underway.)
|
not yet started (Describes an activity that has not begun, the opposite of having already begun.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|media
|core_vocabulary
|time
Definition
Already started and still happening.
Having already begun and currently continuing; in progress.
B2
TECHNICAL
2
menetben van
B2
Usage pattern:
[ship/boat] is underway
By sunrise the ferry was already underway and heading for the island.
Napkeltekor a komp már menetben volt, és a sziget felé tartott.
All loose items must be secured before the ship gets underway.
Minden szabadon lévő tárgyat rögzíteni kell, mielőtt a hajó elindul.
Once the boat is underway, passengers must stay behind the safety rail.
The captain refused to leave port until the storm passed, so the vessel never got underway.
Life jackets must be worn at all times while the craft is underway.
Learner examples
The boat is underway and moving fast.
A hajó menetben van, és gyorsan halad.
Please sit down; the ship is now underway.
Kérem, üljön le; a hajó már menetben van.
We left the port at 6 p.m. and were soon underway.
It is not safe to swim when the ferry is underway.
The captain said we would get underway after lunch.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning can be used for cars or planes. In modern English, "underway" in this sense is mainly for ships and boats, especially in nautical or military contexts. For cars or planes, use "moving" or "in motion" instead.
Meaning
of a ship: moving, not moored
Collocations
get underway
|once underway
|when the ship is underway
|vessel is underway
|boat is underway
Synonyms
under sail (Traditional nautical term; often suggests movement using sails, while "underway" is more general.)
|
in motion (General term for movement; less specific to ships than "underway".)
Antonyms
at anchor (Describes a ship held in place by an anchor, the usual opposite of a ship being underway.)
|
moored (Describes a ship fixed to a pier or buoy, not free to move as when it is underway.)
Themes
transport
|military
|travel
|transportation
Definition
(Of a ship or boat) moving on the water, not tied to a place.
(Of a ship or boat) moving through the water and not anchored, moored, or tied up.
Grammar
Dictionary form
underway
IPA
GB/ˌʌndɚwˈeɪ/
US/ˌʌndɚwˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
un - der - way (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (der)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: underway
- Comparative: underwayer
- Superlative: underwayest
Word family
Forms
underwayer
adjective
underwayest
adjective
Related words
way
noun A1
Expressions
get underway
1/ɡˈɛt ˌʌndɚwˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
to begin and start moving forward
To start and begin to move forward or develop.
Examples
- The ceremony will get underway at 10 a.m. sharp.
- We finally got underway after an hour of delays at the airport.
- Talks to form a new government are expected to get underway next week.
well underway
1/wˈɛl ˌʌndɚwˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
in progress and quite advanced
Already in progress and quite far along.
Examples
- The negotiations are well underway, but no deal has been reached yet.
- By May, the harvest was well underway in the southern regions.
- Renovation of the old station is now well underway.