If you drop a ball in the absence of air resistance, it accelerates downward at 9.8 m/s2. If instead you throw the ball upward, then its acceleration just after release is
9.8 m/s2 upward.
upward but less than 9.8 m/s2 .
zero.
downward but less than 9.8 m/s2 .
9.8 m/s2 downward.