System design meetings have their own set of collocations. Phrases like challenge assumptions and reach consensus are used by senior engineers in RFC reviews, architecture boards, and technical interviews.
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An engineer was asked to ___ a design for the new notification service at the architecture review.
Propose a design is the standard system design collocation for formally putting forward a technical solution for group consideration. 'Present' is for demos. 'Show' is too informal. 'Share' implies informally showing work. Propose a design implies that you are making a case for a specific solution, inviting critique and adoption.
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During the review, senior engineers began to ___ assumptions about expected traffic volume.
Challenge assumptions is the critical thinking collocation in system design for rigorously interrogating the premises on which a design is built. 'Question' is similar but softer. 'Test' is for code. 'Debate' implies opposing camps. Challenge assumptions is the constructive, intellectual act central to good system design reviews.
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The team used the review as a chance to ___ alternatives before committing to a single approach.
Explore alternatives is the system design collocation for actively investigating multiple solution paths. 'Consider' is passive. 'Examine' is thorough but analytical. 'Evaluate' happens after options are already known. Explore implies discovery and open-mindedness — essential at the design stage before a decision is made.
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After an hour of discussion, the team was finally able to ___ consensus on the database approach.
Reach consensus is the fixed collocation meaning to arrive at a shared agreement through discussion. 'Achieve' is close but sounds more effortful. 'Find' is informal. 'Get' is too casual. Reach consensus is the standard phrase in technical decision-making, RFC processes, and architecture governance.
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After the meeting, the tech lead was responsible for ___ the decision in an ADR.
Document the decision is the standard system design collocation for capturing the reasoning, alternatives, and outcome in a structured format like an Architecture Decision Record. 'Record' is more general. 'Write' focuses on text. 'Note' implies brevity. Document implies a comprehensive, purposeful artifact for future reference.