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

And what about the zillions of posts, videos, and articles about the latest new supplement, superfood, or exercise that supposedly can lengthen your life? —CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026

And what about regular kids reading from home? —Katie Grant, Parents, 3 Jan. 2026

And what about in terms of food and medical aid being able to enter the territory? —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026

Speaking of what is wrong with women, what about this girls’ night where Kim gets the ladies into a party bus and takes them all the way to Orange County to sit in a restaurant and ride a mechanical bull. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for what about

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout