How to Respond to "What's Up" — 25+ Best Replies

CONTEXT

"What's Up"

Why People Send This

People text "what's up" because they want a conversation but don't have a specific topic in mind. It's a way of saying "I want to talk to you, give me a reason to." It puts the ball in your court, which can feel like pressure but is actually an opportunity to steer the convo wherever you want.

REPLIES

Best Replies to "What's Up"

😂

Funny Replies

1"the ceiling, technically"
2"my blood pressure after reading this text"
3"not my grades that's for sure"
4"me, I just woke up from a nap I didn't plan on taking"
5"I'm googling how to respond to what's up, give me a sec"
6"contemplating my life choices, the usual"
7"gas prices, rent, my anxiety, pick one"

😏

Flirty Replies

1"thinking about you apparently, since you just texted"
2"nothing much but my day just got better"
3"waiting for you to give me plans tonight"
4"bored, entertain me"
5"nothing yet, wanna change that?"
6"missing you, that's what's up"

😎

Casual Replies

1"not much! just chilling at home, you?"
2"just got back from the gym, what about you"
3"watching something on netflix, what's up with you"
4"literally nothing productive, how about you"
5"just eating, wbu what are you doing"
6"working on some stuff but I'm bored, what's good"

💪

Confident Replies

1"a lot actually, but what's up with YOU"
2"I'm great thanks for asking, now what's really on your mind"
3"the real question is what's up with you"
4"living my best life, what's your excuse for texting me"
5"I'm about to go do something fun, wanna hear about it"
6"just being awesome as usual, what do you need"

If You Like Them

When someone you like asks what's up, this is your chance to shine. The best response to what's up from a crush is something that opens a door — mention something interesting you're doing, something funny that happened, or flip it back with some flirty energy. How to reply to what's up from someone you're into should feel effortless, not like you're trying too hard.

If You're Not Interested

What to say when someone says what's up and you want to keep it short? "Not much, you?" is the universal polite brush-off. It technically answers the question without giving them anything to build on. Reply to what's up text with minimal info and no questions, and the convo will naturally die.

EXAMPLES

Conversation Examples

what's up

not much! just saw the craziest thing at the grocery store though

Delivered

what's up

thinking about getting food, wanna come?

Delivered

what's up

the ceiling lol but fr I'm just chilling, you?

Delivered

what's up

literally so bored, please tell me you have plans

Delivered

what's up

just finished this show and I NEED to talk about it

Delivered

AVOID

Mistakes to Avoid

✕Answering with "nothing" and killing the conversation before it starts

✕Writing three paragraphs about your day when they just wanted to chat

✕Replying with "what's up" back — now you're both stuck in a loop

✕Taking it too literally and listing everything you're doing like a status report

✕Responding hours later with "nm" — if you're going to be late at least make it worth the wait

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What to say when someone says what's up?

Give them something real but keep it short. Mention one thing you're doing or something on your mind, then bounce it back with a "wbu" or "what about you." The reply to what's up text should start a conversation, not end one.

How to reply to what's up without being dry?

Add some flavor to your answer. Instead of "nothing," try "just fell down a youtube rabbit hole about deep sea creatures" or whatever you're actually up to. How to respond to what's up in a non-boring way is literally just being honest and specific.

Is what's up the same as hey?

Not exactly. Hey is just a greeting, but what's up is a greeting plus a question. The best response to what's up should actually answer the question, even casually. That's the key difference in how to reply to what's up vs hey.

What does it mean when your crush texts what's up?

It usually means they want to talk to you but don't have a smooth opener. What to reply to what's up from your crush? Something that shows personality and gives them a reason to keep texting. Don't overthink it — they reached out first, that's already a good sign.

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