underway English · revision 15302

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1743}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʌndəˈweɪ/ ''(UK)''; /ʌndəɹˈweɪ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the phrase under way written as one word, from [[under]] and [[way]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) perhaps after [[nl|onderweg|t=on the way]].^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of ships, having begun to move: 1749 in Etymonline, the mid-18th century in the Shorter Oxford;^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1743.^(MWU 2024) The one-word spelling is in the OED from 1934.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of projects and activities, begun and in progress, it is attested from 1935.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1743 – under way (Merriam-Webster).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1749 – of a ship in motion.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – underway as one word.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1935 – of a project in progress.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having started and in progress: ''the project is well underway''.^(LDOCE 2009)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of a ship or vehicle, moving.^(LDOCE 2009)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[under]]

+ * [[way]]

+ * [[afoot]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}