necessaryfirststep
nounUK /ˈnɛsəsəri fɜːst stɛp/
US /ˈnɛsəˌsɛri fɜrst stɛp/
The first thing you must do before anything else can happen.
Learning the alphabet is a necessary first step to reading books.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The basic action you have to take before a bigger plan can work.
Saving money is a necessary first step to buying a bike.
3. The opening move that makes everything else possible.
Washing your hands is a necessary first step before cooking.
4. Something you cannot skip if you want to succeed.
Practice is a necessary first step to playing the piano well.