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
Miles and Hunter can knock down outside shots, but what about the rest of the roster?
—
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
Presented with exceptions to these patterns—what about a cappella jazz ensembles?
—Matthew Aucoin, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
But what about those over-the-top gender reveals that have been taking in recent years?
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
But what about newcomers — the city is growing — or those who were too young to remember?
—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 12 Apr. 2025
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Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
Presented with exceptions to these patterns—what about a cappella jazz ensembles?
—Matthew Aucoin, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
But what about those over-the-top gender reveals that have been taking in recent years?
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
But what about newcomers — the city is growing — or those who were too young to remember?
—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 12 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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