Phrase guide

under way

prep_phrase · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

In operation, in progress, commenced.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Moving through the water; not anchored, moored, aground, or beached.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep_phrase

Meaning 3

Into motion, into its course.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The show finally got under way, just 10 minutes late.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

in motion; set in motion

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the ship got under way

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: op weg — in operation or in process
  • Finnish: toiminnassa — in operation or in process
  • Finnish: käynnissä — in operation or in process
  • Finnish: tekeillä — in operation or in process
  • Finnish: työn alla — in operation or in process
  • French: en cours — in operation or in process
  • Greek: σε εξέλιξη (se exélixi) — in operation or in process
  • Manx: fo-raad — in operation or in process
  • Polish: w toku — in operation or in process
  • Russian: иду́т (idút) — in operation or in process
  • Russian: иде́т (idét) — in operation or in process
  • Swedish: på väg — in operation or in process
  • Afrikaans: varend — moving through water
  • Afrikaans: onderweg — moving through water
  • Finnish: kulussa — moving through water
  • French: avec erre — moving through water
  • Polish: na wodzie — moving through water