Wiktionary
vb. 1 To initiate a project; to make a start 2 To begin to move (especially of a ship)
Usage examples of "get underway".
If we take that ship, I want to be able to get underway if anyone on shore tries to help.
We tried to do a trade in all three cases, but they were popped before negotiations had a chance to get underway.
Throw off my lines and take off the gangplank as though you're helping me make ready to get underway.
The opening day of the search didn't get underway until almost eleven o'clock in the morning.
If I shout to get underway, I want to bemoving by the time I'm back up on deck.
That other lower one belongs to Mike FitzGibbon, and believe me you'll be glad he's there when we get underway the next time.
After that he retrieved his briefcase from his room and had a seat in one of the public lounges, close enough to the ViaGen suite to hear the rap get underway.
He'd be able to get underway in the next twelve to fifteen minutes.
Harnessed to it were two large dieren, stomping and snorting, eager to get underway.
The dark-haired man had showed up at sunrise with a single bag and in clipped English told the captain to get underway.