Tarawa

American  

[tuh-rah-wuh, tar-uh-wah, tah-rah-wah] / təˈrɑ wə, ˈtær əˌwɑ, ˈtɑ rɑˌwɑ /

noun

1. one of the Gilbert Islands, in the central Pacific; capital, since 1979, of the independent nation of Kiribati: U.S. victory over Japanese forces after severe fighting, November, 1943. 14 sq. mi. (36 sq. km).

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Tarawa British  

/ təˈrɑːwə /

noun

1. an atoll in Kiribati, occupying a chain of islets surrounding a lagoon in the W central Pacific: the capital of Kiribati, Bairiki, is on this atoll. Pop: 45 989 (2005)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Tarawa

At the same time, Kiribati's population of around 130,000 is expected to grow, with rapid urbanisation, particularly in the capital Tarawa placing additional strain on already limited land and resources.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026

When the Marines headed toward the beach on the Tarawa atoll in 1943, things didn’t go well.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026

Those include an embassy in the Solomon Islands that opened in January; the embassy in Tonga that Mr. Blinken will dedicate on Wednesday; and planned embassies in Port Vila, Vanuatu, and in Tarawa, Kiribati.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 25, 2023

Those include an embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands, that opened in January; an embassy in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, that opened in May and planned embassies in Port Vila, Vanuatu, and in Tarawa, Kiribati.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 13, 2023

Fifteen minutes later they ran the big current at the entrance to Tarawa lagoon.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson