Origin: Germanic Old English prefix
Underway has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
A road, track, path, or street for going under another way or obstacle; an underpass.
"The new highway includes a short section of roadway that is underway beneath the existing overpass to avoid traffic congestion."
In plain English: An underway is not actually a noun; it is an adjective used to describe something that has started moving or operating, especially ships at sea.
"The project has turned into an underway that threatens to burn out our team members before launch."
In motion, in progress; being done or carried out; on a journey.
"The construction project is finally underway after months of delays."
In plain English: When something is underway, it means that an action has already started and is currently happening.
"The project is already underway and we are making good progress."
Usage: Use underway to describe something that has already started and is currently in progress, such as a project underway or a ship at sea. It specifically indicates active movement rather than just future plans or completed actions.
The word "underway" is a direct borrowing from the Dutch phrase onderweg, which literally means "on the road." It entered English with its current meaning, describing something that has started or is in progress.