why not

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why not (not comparable)

1. Why is that so? (for a negative statement)

   I don't want to go out today. — Why not?

2. (rhetorical) Used to state that one has no objection to and approves of a proposal.

   Let's have pizza for lunch. — Yeah, why not?

3. (rhetorical) Used to introduce a proposal.

   Why not try turning the handle in the other direction to see if that opens the window?

• Definitions 2 and 3 are more in the nature of assertions than questions, so they are often spoken as assertions and sometimes written without question marks.

• (why is that not true): why?, how come?
• (to show one has no objection): all right, OK
• (to introduce a proposal): how about, what if