Dictionary

under way en · ADP

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) In operation, in progress, commenced.
   • A dearth of signalmen and the high cost of labour is hastening an elimination process that already was well under way before the second world war. 1956 May, C. H. Betts, “St. Pancras Tunnel Signalbox”, in Railway Magazine, page 320:
   • SWR has decided to withdraw it with immediate effect and cease the programme of modifications that were under way, to avoid incurring further costs to the taxpayer to reintroduce and operate these trains. 2021 May 21, Richard Clinnick, “Fleet News: SWR's termination of '442' refurbishment saves £24m”, in RAIL, number 931, page 29:
   • The All Blacks drove upfield, using up the remaining moments, and when Joubert blew for another French infringement, the biggest party in New Zealand's history was under way. 2011 October 23, Tom Fordyce, “2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France”, in BBC Sport:
   • Hidden behind thickets of acronyms and gorse bushes of detail, a new great game is under way across the globe. Some call it geoeconomics, but it's geopolitics too. The current power play consists of an extraordinary range of countries simultaneously sitting down to negotiate big free trade and investment agreements. 2013 July 19, Timothy Garton Ash, “Where Dr Pangloss meets Machiavelli”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 18:
2. (of a vessel) Moving through the water; not anchored, moored, aground, or beached.
3. Into motion, into its course.
   • The show finally got under way, just 10 minutes late.

Forms

Relateds

make way

Translations (17)

fi tekeillä (in operation or in process) · pl na wodzie (moving through water) · fr en cours (in operation or in process) · fi työn alla (in operation or in process) · fi käynnissä (in operation or in process) · fr avec erre (moving through water) · fi kulussa (moving through water) · af varend (moving through water) · pl w toku (in operation or in process) · ru иду́т (in operation or in process) · fi toiminnassa (in operation or in process) · gv fo-raad (in operation or in process) · el σε εξέλιξη (in operation or in process) · ru иде́т (in operation or in process) · nl op weg (in operation or in process) · af onderweg (moving through water) · sv på väg (in operation or in process)