was underway

USAGE SUMMARY

"was underway" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe that something has already started or is currently in progress. Example: "The construction of the new building was underway when the pandemic hit, causing delays and disruptions." In this sentence, "was underway" indicates that the construction had already started before the pandemic happened.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Filming was underway.

The Guardian - Film

The Knicks' season was underway.

The New Yorker

The party was underway.

The Guardian - Sport

Mass electrification was underway.

The Washington Post

Regional expansion was underway.

Harvard Business Review

A new era was underway.

The Guardian

The triumphal parade was underway.

The New York Times

Soon, the trial was underway.

The Washington Post

Inside, a senior prom was underway.

The New Yorker

The war of terror was underway.

The Guardian - Books

The War on the Literal" was underway.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was underway" to clearly indicate that an event, process, or activity has already started and is currently in progress. This helps to establish a timeline and provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "was underway" when referring to events that have not yet started. This phrase indicates that something has already begun, so using it in a future context would be grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was underway" functions as a predicate adjective describing the state of a noun, indicating that something has already started and is currently in progress. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

27%

Science

13%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was underway" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something has started and is currently in progress. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples across various contexts. Primarily found in News & Media, Academia, and Scientific sources, its neutral register makes it versatile for diverse writing styles. While effective, alternative phrases like "was in progress" can provide similar meaning with slight variations in formality. Remember to use "was underway" only for events that have already begun and avoid using it in future contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in progress

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action or event. It is a more formal alternative.

had begun

Highlights the starting point of the action or event. It is a simple and direct alternative.

was ongoing

Stresses the continuous nature of the action or event. It is a more descriptive alternative.

was proceeding

Implies a planned or structured progression. It is a more formal alternative.

was happening

Offers a more general and less formal description of an event taking place.

was in motion

Suggests the beginning of an activity or process. It's less common than "was underway".

was afoot

This is a more figurative or idiomatic way of saying something was happening. It is less common.

was in the works

Implies that something was being planned or developed. It focuses on the preparatory stage.

was in the process

Highlights that something is going through steps to completion. It's slightly more verbose.

was being carried out

Focuses on the execution or implementation of something. It is a more passive alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "was underway" in a sentence?

You can use "was underway" to indicate that something had already started. For example, "The project "was underway" when the budget cuts were announced".

What is a more formal alternative to "was underway"?

A more formal alternative would be "was in progress", which emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action or event.

Is it correct to say "will be underway"?

Yes, "will be underway" is grammatically correct. It indicates that something will be in progress at a future point in time.

What's the difference between "was underway" and "had started"?

"Was underway" implies a continuous action already in progress, while "had started" simply indicates that an action began at some point in the past. For example, "The investigation "was underway"" suggests the investigation was ongoing. "The investigation "had started"" simply indicates that it had begun.