You’re staring at a half-finished email or a project proposal and the phrase is just sitting there. In the process. It’s fine. It’s functional. But it’s also incredibly boring, and honestly, it’s a bit of a linguistic crutch that makes you sound like you’re stalling. Language is weirdly psychological; the words we pick to describe movement actually change how people perceive our progress.
Finding another word for in the process isn't just about sounding smarter. It’s about clarity.
If you tell a client you’re "in the process of finishing the report," they hear "I haven’t actually finished it yet and I might be procrastinating." If you say it's "underway," it feels active. Words have weight. When you're stuck in that middle ground where things are happening but aren't done yet, the specific synonym you grab from your mental toolbox dictates the entire vibe of the conversation.
Stop saying in the process when you mean something else
We use "in the process" as a safety net. It’s vague enough to cover up for the fact that we might only be 5% done or maybe we’re 95% done. But in professional writing—and even in casual storytelling—vagueness is the enemy of engagement.
If you’re looking for another word for in the process that carries more punch, you have to look at the stage of the action. Is it just starting? Is it mid-stream? Is it almost over?
Take the word underway. It sounds nautical because it is. It implies a ship has left the dock. There’s a sense of "no turning back" with underway that you just don't get with the standard phrase. Then there’s ongoing. It’s a bit corporate, sure, but it suggests a steady state of work. It’s the difference between a frantic sprint and a marathon.
Sometimes, you don't even need a synonym. You need a better verb. Instead of saying "We are in the process of reviewing the data," just say "We are reviewing the data." See? You just cut four words and made yourself sound ten times more confident.
The nuance of "in progress" vs "procedural" synonyms
Sometimes you need to sound formal. Legal documents, medical reports, or high-level business briefings often require a certain level of gravitas. In these cases, you might reach for in media res if you want to be fancy (and maybe a little annoying), but more likely you’ll want incipient or developing.
Incipient is a great word because it specifically refers to the very beginning of a process. It’s that moment when something is just starting to exist. Think of an incipient storm or an incipient idea. It’s a sophisticated way to signal that you’re at the starting line.
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On the flip side, if something is deep in the works, afoot adds a bit of mystery or energy. "Plans are afoot." It sounds like something from a Sherlock Holmes novel, but it works in a modern context when you want to imply that a lot of moving parts are currently clicking into place behind the scenes.
Why context dictates the choice
Let’s get real for a second. If you’re texting a friend that you’re "in the process of getting ready," and you use the word "incipient," they’re going to think you’ve lost your mind. In that context, doing or middle of is better.
- Midst: This is the heavy hitter for when things are chaotic. "In the midst of a move" sounds way more overwhelming (and accurate) than "in the process of moving."
- Proceeding: Use this when there’s a formal sequence. It implies a legal or bureaucratic flow.
- Transitioning: This is the best choice when the "process" is actually a change from one state to another.
Dealing with the "In the works" trap
We’ve all said it. "It’s in the works." It’s the ultimate phrase for when you want to sound busy without actually committing to a deadline. While it’s a solid another word for in the process, it’s also a bit of a cliché.
If you want to sound like you actually have your life together, try forthcoming. It’s professional. It’s clean. It tells the reader that the thing exists and is headed their way. It’s a favorite in the publishing world for a reason.
Another subtle but powerful variation is en route. Originally used for physical travel, it has migrated into project management. "The final draft is en route" sounds like it’s physically moving toward the recipient. It creates a sense of proximity that "in the process" lacks entirely.
What linguistic experts say about filler phrases
Steven Pinker, the cognitive psychologist and linguist, often talks about "the curse of knowledge" and how we use abstract language to hide simple truths. "In the process" is often a "hedge." We hedge when we aren't sure, or when we want to protect ourselves from being wrong.
By replacing these hedges with direct synonyms like active or advancing, you’re practicing what linguists call "stronger agency." You are the actor in the sentence, not just a passive observer of a process that is "happening."
The American Heritage Dictionary actually notes that "process" is one of the most overused words in the English language because it can mean almost anything—from a biological function to a legal lawsuit. When you narrow it down, you make it easier for the human brain to visualize what’s actually happening.
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Practical ways to swap it out today
If you want to improve your writing immediately, do a "Find" command (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) on your document for the word "process." Every time it pops up, ask yourself: Does this word actually mean anything here?
Often, you can just delete it.
"The building is in the process of being demolished."
Better: "The building is being demolished."
"We are in the process of hiring."
Better: "We are hiring."
If you absolutely must keep the structure, here is how you should categorize your replacements:
For speed and urgency
Use unfolding or breaking. These words imply that things are happening right now, in real-time. Think of a "breaking news" story. It’s a process, but it’s a fast one. Unfolding is more elegant; it suggests a flower blooming or a story revealing itself.
For mechanical or technical contexts
Use operational or functional. If a machine is "in the process of running," it’s just running. If a system is being set up, it’s integrating. These words provide a technical "texture" that makes you sound like you actually know how the gears turn.
For creative or growth-oriented tasks
Use evolving or gestating. Okay, "gestating" is a bit weird if you aren't talking about biology, but in creative circles, it perfectly describes that period where an idea is growing but hasn't been "born" yet. Evolving is the gold standard for projects that are changing as they go.
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The "In Pipeline" metaphor
In the business world, everything is a pipeline. While "in the pipeline" is technically another word for in the process, it’s become so common that people often tune it out. If you want to refresh this, try channeled or queued.
Queued is particularly useful because it implies order. It says, "We haven't started this yet, but it’s next in line." That is infinitely more helpful to a supervisor than saying something is "in the process."
Common pitfalls when searching for synonyms
Don't go too far. The biggest mistake people make when trying to find another word for in the process is picking a word that’s too "thesaurus-heavy."
If you use a word like concomitant (which means naturally accompanying) when you just meant "happening at the same time," you’re going to lose your audience. The goal of writing is to be understood, not to win a vocabulary contest.
Avoid interim. People often think it means "in the process," but it actually means "temporary." If you say you’re in an interim phase, you’re saying this current state is a placeholder, not necessarily that you are actively working through it.
Moving forward with better phrasing
The best way to handle the "in the process" dilemma is to look at your verbs. If you find yourself leaning on "in the process," your verbs are probably weak.
Instead of "We are in the process of planning," just say "We are planning."
Instead of "The fruit is in the process of ripening," say "The fruit is ripening."
By cutting the "process" entirely, you give the action back its power. You aren't just a bystander watching a process; you are the one doing the work, or the object is the one undergoing the change.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your recent sent emails. Find one instance of "in the process" and see if the sentence works better without it.
- Identify the stage. If you’re writing a status update, use incipient for new tasks, underway for tasks in the middle, and finalizing for tasks nearly done.
- Use the "Action Test." If you can replace "in the process of [verb]" with just the [verb], do it every single time.
- Match the tone. Save words like afoot for storytelling and forthcoming for professional reports.
You'll find that as you strip away these filler phrases, your writing becomes punchier, your emails get answered faster, and you stop sounding like an automated status bot. Precision in language leads to precision in thought. Stop processing and start doing.