what about
idiom
1
: does that include (someone) : how about (someone)
"We're all going to the beach." "What about Kenny?"
2
: how does that affect (someone or something) : what should be done about (someone or something)
"I need to leave—something has come up." "What about the meeting?" "We'll have to reschedule it."
What about the people who can't afford health insurance?
3
—used to make a suggestion about what could be done
We'll need to talk about this again. What about (meeting) next week?
There's still time. What about playing another game?
4
—used to ask someone to tell one something in response to the thing that one has just said
I like skiing and hiking. What about you? What sports do you like?
Everyone else is coming. What about you?
Examples of what about in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But what about children in families that have little or no wealth to hand down?
—
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
But what about turning left onto a one-way street during a red light?
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 June 2025
So if all this is true for Earth, what about other planets?
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 June 2025
And what about plates − small in front and large in back or the other way around?
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for what about
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John Cassidy, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
But what about turning left onto a one-way street during a red light?
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 June 2025
So if all this is true for Earth, what about other planets?
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 June 2025
And what about plates − small in front and large in back or the other way around?
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for what about
Cite this Entry
“What about.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/what%20about. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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