well underway

USAGE SUMMARY

"well underway" is correct and usable in written English.
It usually means that a certain action or process is going forward and progressing at a steady pace. For example: "The construction of the new stadium is well underway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the hysteria is well underway".

Independent

The constitution writing process is well underway.

The Guardian

Fortunately, a quiet revolution is well underway.

The Guardian - Business

All this self-correction is well underway.

The New York Times

Another smart city that is well underway is Barcelona.

The Guardian

The good news is that Mission SusTech is well underway.

The Guardian

Publishing for the 2008 RAE are well underway.

The Guardian

But with the election campaign now well underway, the impact was limited.

The Guardian - Business

We shut the doors of our house in January 2013, and renovation works are well underway.

The Guardian

But the attempts to shape public opinion and form alliances are well underway.

The Guardian

I arrived before her and was well underway by the time she arrived.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "well underway" to emphasize that a project or process has moved beyond the initial stages and is actively progressing towards completion.

Common error

Avoid using "well underway" to describe static or unchanging situations; it implies active progress and forward movement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well underway" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action or process is in an advanced stage of development or progress. Ludwig provides many examples of how this phrase is used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "well underway" is a grammatically correct and common way to express that a process or project is actively progressing. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides numerous examples from diverse contexts, predominantly from News & Media sources. Alternatives such as "in full swing" or "making good progress" can be used depending on the desired nuance. When writing, use "well underway" to highlight active progress, but avoid applying it to static situations. As seen on Ludwig, this expression is very useful and frequently used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making good progress

Focuses on the advancement aspect, highlighting that positive steps are being taken.

in full swing

Emphasizes the activity level, suggesting the process is at its peak.

actively progressing

Highlights the ongoing nature and forward movement of the activity.

advancing steadily

Focuses on the consistent and stable progression of the process.

proceeding smoothly

Indicates an absence of obstacles or problems in the execution.

in motion

Highlights that the activity has started and it is moving forward

gathering momentum

Suggests the process is not only underway but also gaining speed and power.

gaining traction

Highlights that the activity is becoming more accepted and effective over time.

rolling

Emphasizes that the project or task is running efficiently with no obstructions

under development

Highlights that the activity is still being developed but its at an advanced state

FAQs

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

You can use "well underway" to indicate that a project or process is actively progressing. For example, "The construction of the new bridge is "making good progress" and is expected to be completed on schedule."

What are some alternatives to saying "well underway"?

Alternatives to "well underway" include phrases like "in full swing", "actively progressing", or "advancing steadily", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the project is well underway to completion"?

While understandable, it's more concise and common to say "the project is "well underway"" or "the project is "nearing completion"" to avoid redundancy.

What's the difference between "underway" and "well underway"?

"Underway" simply means something has started, while ""well underway"" suggests that the process is not only started but also actively progressing and at an advanced state.